ON a weekend when all the jumps action in Britain was given the cold shoulder, Denman’s possible participation in this year’s John Smith’s Grand National has caused a frenzy among bookmakers, the handicapper and possible opposition on the big day.

With Sandown, Ayr, Wincanton and Plumpton all falling victim to the weather all the talk has been about trainer Paul Nicholls’ comments in his Racing Post column on Saturday that Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman would be given a entry in the Aintree showpiece when they are revealed in the next month.

Bookmakers reacted to the news by slashing the nine-year-old’s odds for the National to a best-priced 10-1 with Ladbrokes, Victor Chandler and Paddy Power. Some, like totesport, are as low as 7-1 – the price most recent favourites have gone off on the day of the race.

Whether punters have been rushing in to back the star chaser, who was an impressive winner of the Gold Cup back in March, or the bookmakers are just taking evasive action before they build up huge liabilities is debatable.

Denman has not been on the track since Cheltenham after suffering from a fibrillating heart. He is on course to defend his Gold Cup crown on March 13, but if all was well he could also head to Merseyside three weeks later on April 4.

It should be pointed out, though, that no horse has won both races in the same year since 1934 and the legendary Golden Miller. While the last Gold Cup winner to try was in 1995 when Master Oats finished seventh at Aintree.

The British Horseracing Authority chief handicapper, Liverpool-born Phil Smith, would be delighted to frame the race around Denman.

He said: “It’s very exciting news for the race and obviously it will make me think a bit. It’s the culmination of everything we have been trying to achieve for the last 10 years as we have been trying to get the better horses to run.

“Ten years ago, the highest-rated horse in the race was 150 and now it could be 182 so it is really fantastic. At the bottom end, the lowest-rated horse was in 1999 was 110 and last year it was 138 so the race has improved by two stone in 10 years.

“It’s great for the sponsors as they are putting a lot of money in and they deserve the best horses.

“I suggested they dropped the top weight to 11st10lb from 11st12lb and that has been accepted by everyone and obviously that has encouraged Denman’s connections.

“Obviously all the news is about Denman but I suspect there will be a lot of other exceptionally good horses in there as well.

“Denman’s entry will make the race but I also think the race will be the making of Denman so it is great news all round.”

Nicholls had said in his column: “I’ve been asked several times whether Denman will have an entry in the Grand National and I can put an end to the speculation by saying he will be entered.

“I’m coming round to the idea of running him. The more I think about it the more it makes sense with Denman in his prime.

“Phil Smith has offered a carrot by reducing the top weight and as Denman is rated 182, the Grand National handicap is going to be very interesting.”

But Denman’s joint owners, Paul Barber and Harry Findlay, pointed out that at this stage Denman is not certain to run.

Barber said: “He is not a definite runner by any matter of means. He is being given a definite entry in the race, but I can’t go any further than that because so much is going to happen between now and then.

“I am not desperately keen on running a horse in the National, though I’m not saying I won’t. I am not a huge supporter of the National full stop.”

Connections of potential opposition, though, would be happy with Denman’s participation as it would leave them with a handy weight for the £900,000 contest.

Connections of Order of Merit leader Snoopy Loopy and Welsh National winner Notre Pere both may enter.

Snoopy Loopy’s trainer Peter Bowen said: “We would definitely consider the National for him but only if Denman was to run. If he didn’t I wouldn’t want him to go off top weight but if Denman was there, he’d have a good weight.”

Notre Pere’s handler Jim Dreaper added: “I think it’s very good news that they are going to enter Denman for the National and because they are, Notre Pere will definitely be entered as he should be in the handicap proper on a light weight.”

TODAY’S NAP: Whiskey Creek (2.15pm Lingfield).