Denman Team Ready For Hennessy Test

Paul Nicholls is under no illusions about the task facing ante-post favourite Denman in tomorrow's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

Last season's Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner, who has only lost one race under rules, will have to shoulder top-weight of 11st 12lb on his seasonal reappearance.

Nicholls, who has won the race both as a trainer and a jockey, is keen to point out the seven-year-old will improve for his run at the weekend, with next month's Lexus Chase in Ireland his first major goal.

He said: 'Denman has got a huge task at the weights, as we all know, and I think he is a hard horse to get fit first time but he's got to run somewhere.

'The gallop (at Exeter last week) will have brought him on but as he was schooling this morning, I said to Paul (Barber, owner) that he would tighten up for a run.

'To win a Hennessy first time out will be hard but give him a month and we'll go to the Lexus off level weights and he'll be spot on.

'He has to go close if he is going to be a Gold Cup horse but you see in all these handicaps, like Kauto Star and Voy Por Ustedes did, they find it hard to give weight away.

'I said Kauto's first run would bring him on and it's the same with Denman, when he's back to level weights he will find it much easier,' he told At The Races.

(C) PA Sport