Nicholls 'could not be happier' with Denman

Denman winning the Hennessy from What A Friend 12 months ago

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  Nicholls: I couldn't be happier with Denman
 By James Burn 6:00PM 22 NOV 2010 CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls plans to field five runners in his bid for a fourth Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday and said he "couldn't be happier" with top-weight Denman, who is attempting to win the prestigious handicap for the third time.

RELATED LINKS Hennessy card Hennessy betting Gold Cup betting Free bets  The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was on Monday joined by stablemates Neptune Collonges, Taranis, The Tother One and Niche Market as 20 horses remained at the latest forfeit stage for the Hennessy, with Denman no bigger than 4-1.

 

Weird Al, Pandorama and Burton Point, Denman's main rivals according to the betting, also stood their ground, but they will forced to run from out of the handicap, and Nicholls is in optimistic mood because of that.

He said: "Of course he's got it all to do on Saturday off 11st 12lb and an 8lb higher mark than last year, but that will be offset to a degree by a lot of the runners being out of the handicap."

Nicholls, who won the Hennessy twice as a jockey, added: "We know he loves Newbury, he loves the hustle and bustle of the Hennessy and he seems to come good at this time of year. I couldn't be happier with him."

Denman, who will be ridden by Sam Thomas, is a best-priced 12-1 to regain his Gold Cup crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but those odds will shorten if he lands a record-breaking third Hennessy.

Nicholls is also set to unleash dual Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner Big Buck's in the Sportingbet.com Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday and that race was re-opened on Monday.

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