The manner of Denman's Gold Cup victory looks to have all-but ruled him out of ever tackling the Grand National.
Gold Cup winner unlikely to go for Grand National in the future.
The manner of Denman's Gold Cup victory looks to have all-but ruled him out of ever tackling the Grand National, according to his joint-owner Harry Findlay.
Denman defeated Gold Cup champion Kauto Star by seven lengths and the way he ground his rivals into submission impressed those watching on.
The eight-year-old is a true stayer and gallops all day long, and many thought he would take all the beating if he was given the chance around Aintree in the Grand National.
The extroverted Findlay, who owns Denman along with Paul Barber, had also believed Denman could be a National winner, until he saw his performance at Cheltenham.
Even Findlay was impressed with Denman's speed in the Gold Cup and he now thinks that his charge will not take part in the Aintree spectacular.
Certainty
"I'd made Denman a certainty to run in the Grand National at some stage, but before he jumped the last in the Gold Cup it was 10-1 against him running in it next year," said Findlay.
"The reason is the sheer speed he displayed at Cheltenham, which Christian Williams has been telling me for ages the horse has - and Christian should know, as he won three hurdle races on him and played a massive part in his formative career.
"Until Master Minded arrived on the scene, Christian told me Denman would have been a certainty to win the Champion Chase. I agreed.
"When you study the closing stages of the Gold Cup closely, it's amazing how fast Denman was travelling round that final bend.
"Sam Thomas had to be aggressive in the middle of the race and, bearing that in mind, the speed he showed turning for home was scary."
Four-race plan
Findlay says that Denman will now follow the same path back to the Gold Cup with four races planned next season.
"Paul Barber and I have identical opinions about which races he should run in, and see no reason why it won't be the same programme," Findlay added.
"The Gold Cup was always going to tell us how good Denman really is. Next season it will be the Hennessy, Lexus Chase, Aon Chase and the Gold Cup."
There will also be discussions between Findlay and Barber about whether Thomas will now be their preferred partner for Denman ahead of Ruby Walsh.
Walsh is trainer Paul Nicholls' stable jockey but opted to go with Kauto Star in the Gold Cup ahead of Denman, and the owners were so delighted with Thomas' ride that he could even land the job full-time.
