Lexus ruled out of Denman plans

Denman will return to Newbury for his only outing before the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup as connections have decided to give the Lexus Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival a miss in favour of the Aon Chase in February.

The Paul Barber and Harry Findlay-owned gelding became the first horse since Arkle, and only the third in history, to win two Hennessy Gold Cups when humping 11st 12lb to beat stablemate What A Friend by three and a half lengths.

Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old brought the house down as he fought back under Ruby Walsh after being just headed at the second-last to score a decisive victory at Newbury on Saturday.

Findlay said: "We were thinking of going to Ireland (for the Lexus Chase) but we won't now he's won. It appears we'll go straight to the Aon and that suits us fine. It means one less race to worry about."

Nicholls added on At The Races: "If we lost that meeting (to the weather), he'd go straight to the Gold Cup. We've been from hell and back last year but for him to come through in that sort of form was really, really good. I would have been well happy if he'd have run fourth and fifth, but Denman was at his very best."

Of What A Friend, Nicholls said: "He's a little bit quirky and he's going to win a big race one day. He's only six and still a baby but there's alot to look forward to with him."

Denman and stablemate Kauto Star have dominated the Gold Cup over the past two years, and there is widespread fervour over which will emerge triumphant in what many see as the heavyweight decider next March.

Findlay went on: "It's all about Paul Nicholls getting them both there and that's what everyone is hoping for. They really are completely dominant as I don't see Cooldine's RSA Chase win as being worth anything.

"It's impossible for Imperial Commander to stay the Gold Cup distance as it's a real stamina test. What's surprised me about Denman is that his breeding is that of a two-and-a-half-mile horse, but he's got so much character and he loves a battle. I never thought What A Friend would beat him. When What A Friend jinked a bit, I knew we had him."

Findlay was quick to praise the contribution of Nicholls, who has nurtured Denman back to full fitness after last season's well-documented heart problems.

"I don't know how Paul does it. Paul Barber and I know it was a tremendous training performance. I know next to nothing about the training of racehorses but what I do know is that if you asked me to train one horse, it wouldn't be Denman! He's a very hard horse to train in every way."