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All-Time Great Denman Retires After Sustaining Tendon Injury
09/12/11

Paul Nicholls’ star chaser Denman, winner of the 2008 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and as short as 16/1 in places to score again in the 2012 renewal, has sensationally been retired after being found to have sustained a tendon injury whilst training for his seasonal reappearance in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown at the end of the month, writes Elliot Slater.

Denman
© racing-images.co.uk

Denman
The news will come as a massive shock to Denman’s army of fans who had received bullish reports about his progress ahead of his first outing of the term, but owner Paul Barber (together with Nicholls), felt there was no real choice to be made after the extent of the injury was revealed and having taken into account the fact that the gelded son of Presenting will celebrate his 12th birthday in a few weeks time. Following the news he was removed from the Cheltenham ante post lists.

Denman will always be best remembered as a swashbuckling chaser who never knew when he was beaten and for his stunning victory over stable companion and reigning champion Kauto Star in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup of 2008, a victory that allegedly netted his then part-owner Harry Findlay a reported seven-figure sum in winning ante-post bets. Kauto Star gained his revenge on his conqueror the following year, but Denman remained right at the top of the tree, finding only Imperial Commander too good for him in the 2010 renewal and then keeping on best after being prominent all the way to hold Kauto Star for second places as the pair were outspeeded by the much younger Long Run in a memorable race for the 2011 championship contest.

His two victories under massive weights in the Hennessy Gold Cup were arguably no lesser achievements for the great horse who won 14 of his 24 starts and over £1.1 million in total career prize money. Thankfully, his injury was revealed before any serious damage could be done so Denman can look forward to a long and much deserved retirement.


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