Maguire full of praise for Denman

Adrian Maguire described Denman´s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph as ´awesome´, and believes the gelding can dominate the jumping scene for years to come.

The jockey-turned-trainer, who saddled a double with For Real and the highly regarded Let Yourself Go at Limerick this afternoon, handled the eight-year-old during his early career including a point-to-point win at Liscarroll in March 2005.

Trainer Paul Nicholls and joint-owners Harry Findlay and Paul Barber snapped up Denman soon after and Maguire is thrilled to see the gelding fulfil his potential.

"Obviously I am delighted for the connections, the horse and Sam Thomas and I was not one bit surprised by how he did it," said Maguire.

"When I sold him to Paul Nicholls, with hand on my heart, I told him all this lad needed was a bit of luck and he would be a Gold Cup horse."

Denman has been dubbed ´The Tank´ in the build-up to his Prestbury Park triumph and Maguire remembers him as a powerful individual.

"He was always a fine, big strong horse and he took to jumping very well. He always took his work well and you just could not fault him," he said.

"From the day he came to the yard to the day he won his point-to-point it was five months and you can´t do that with many horses."

Denman now boasts 13 wins in 14 starts over hurdles and fences with the only blemish on his record coming when second to Nicanor in the 2006 Royal & SunAlliance Novices´ Hurdle.

And Maguire expects his dominance of the jumping ranks to continue for some time, all being well.

"If he stays healthy he could obviously go back there with an outstanding chance for the next couple of years. He´s a proper Gold Cup horse.

"It´s a great result for Ireland, and people needed to be reminded where good horses come from - the point-to-point field.

"Denman and Kauto Star are both eight, and I know which one is going to improve most from here!"

Findlay has previously expressed a desire to try Denman in the John Smith´s Grand National but Maguire is not convinced that race would be ideal despite the horse´s virtually immaculate fencing.

"I honestly don´t think that would be the ideal race for him," he explained.

"Why run a Gold Cup horse over four and a half miles in what is, although a very high-class one, a handicap?"