PAUL NICHOLLS thinks Denman will be “very hard to beat” today in the totesport Bowl at Aintree – the feature race on the opening day of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.
Although the nine-year-old has yet to win this season, he will start odds-on after his fine run when second to stable-mate Kauto Star in the defence of his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown last month.
When he won the blue riband 12 months ago he looked to have the chasing world at his feet. But a fibrillating heart problem meant he only returned at Kempton in February and he was a shadow of his former self when a long way behind Madison Du Berlais, who reopposed today.
But since his run in the Gold Cup, Nicholls believes he is more like his old self and yesterday he said: “While the track is tight enough for him, he is at least going the right way round. He has improved enormously since Cheltenham and he will be very hard to beat with a bit of luck.”
But he will have to be at his best with Exotic Dancer, only a few lengths back in third at Cheltenham, looking to win the Grade Two event for a second time in three years.
Barry Simpson, racing manager to Exotic Dancer’s owner Sir Robert Ogden, said: “He’s come out of Cheltenham well and we have been pleased with his preparation.
“We’ve got a bit to make up on Denman but we will see how we go. There should be a good, even pace I would have thought, so the race should be run to suit. He’s in great form and we couldn’t be happier with the horse so we can’t do any more than that.”
Meanwhile, trainer Henry Daly is hopeful Mighty Man can upset another Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner Big Buck’s, back at his favourite track in the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle.
The nine-year-old won the race in 2006 and 2007, reversing Prestbury Park form with My Way De Solzen and Inglis Drever each time.
Now having returned from injury after almost two years out to finish fifth behind Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle last month, reunited with regular jockey Richard Johnson, Mighty Man bids to do the same and complete his 100% record at Aintree on his fourth visit.
Daly said: “He seems absolutely fine. I was absolutely delighted with him.
“To come back from nearly two years off, in a championship race at Cheltenham, and to run like that, you could only be delighted.
“He seems to run well at Aintree and in this race we have got an 8lb pull with the winner of the World Hurdle, but we’ll need it. We’ll just have to see what happens.”
The Nicholls-trained Big Buck’s is owned by the Stewart family, who also have Grand National favourite My Will.
The champion trainer said: “We have no worries about the track as he won there last year. In many ways it might actually suit him better than Cheltenham as he doesn’t really seem to like coming down the hill and the ground will be fine for him.”
