Denman fav for National.

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Nicholls: Denman entered for National


DENMAN has been entered in the John Smith's Grand National, trainer Paul Nicholls has confirmed, although a decision on whether he will run at Aintree is a long way from being decided.



The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who is due to make his seasonal reappearance in the Aon Chase at Newbury a week on Saturday, is one of around 11 horses engaged by the trainer in the race which closes to entries on Tuesday.

Dave, as I said previous, I really hope they DON'T run Denman - far too classy of an animal to take part in that race.

Jim

Jim tend to agree, but over the years better horses are winning the National and if it runs it wins easy, so 10/1 could be "value"?

Dave sorry mate there is no such thing as an easy National. So many 'killer' fences + so many runners, so easy to be brought down etc.

In fact it's billed and is pretty much a lottery for most - ask McCoy - lol!

The best National runner I have seen was Crisp, in one of the years Red Rum won, and what I would guess is that Denman would hit the front and have a bold front running display away from any potential incidents and run them into the ground.
However the connections have to make the call, lets see what happens in the Gold Cup?

I supose what I'm trying to say is the 'Gold Cup' is Group One class - the National is a Handicap = no need to run such a quality animal.

More about the owners, than the well-being of the Horse imho.

Well we know "Harry" likes a wee punt! and that could be the criteria.

The Cup is on Friday 13th Mar and the National 3 weeks later on the 4th April, interesting call?

Still got to remember that the horse has still to run since its heart problems,if it comes back to its best it will be fresh as a daisy come national day.

National is a career ender imo,look at how many of the past winners have went from hero to zero.but hey if i owned him and my ambition was to win the national he would run

There is no doubting Denman's class and I fondly remember 'emptying out' on him in last year's Gold Cup.

Nevertheless - I wouldn't touch him in the National as I sincerely doubt whether he would see out the trip under the kind of impost that he will be lumped with at Aintree.

Denman and War head 123 National entries


DENMAN is the headline horse among the 123 entries revealed on Wednesday for the 2009 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 4, which included a surprise entry for fellow Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition.

Denman, who is due to run for the first time since his Gold Cup triumph in next month's Aon Chase at Newbury, is one of 11 entries for champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

War Of Attrition, the 2006 Gold Cup hero, has been given an entry by trainer Mouse Morris, as have Letheby & Christopher winner Joe Lively and Lexus Chase victor Exotic Dancer.

Last year's Grand National hero Comply Or Die is entered once again, along with six others trained by David Pipe - including Hennessy Gold Cup winner Madison Du Berlais. Silver Birch, who won the race in 2007, could also return in a bid to recapture his crown.

Imperial Commander has been entered by trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has twice won the National with Bindaree and Earth Summit.

Grade 1 winner Air Force One has been put in by trainer Charlie Mann and last year's favourite Cloudy Lane could feature again for trainer Donald McCain.

Also among the entries is last year's Aintree runner-up King Johns Castle, who is now back on the National trail following a setback earlier in the season.



His trainer Arthur Moore said: "King Johns Castle is in good form at the moment. He made a good recovery from his problem in November and we agreed that he went back into exercise.

"He's been doing some good work in the past few weeks and he's taking it well so we feel that he's justified an entry in the John Smith's Grand National.

"I would imagine that he would have a couple of runs beforehand, more likely over hurdles because it's an easier programme for him.

Nicholls will not rush Denman return


WITH the weather forecast to take a turn for the worse in the next few days, Paul Nicholls has underlined he will not rush into making a decision on when or where Denman will return.

Although last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero isstill on course for Newbury's Aon Chase on Saturday week, the recent wet spell and the promise of cold conditions next week could turn the ground against his star stayer.

Nicholls has entered the nine-year-old for the Irish Hennessy 24 hours after the Newbury race and a trip to Ascot or Wincanton is also an option .

However, the Ditcheat maestro is keen to do what is best for the horse following his heart problems and Denman could bypass all those engagements if conditions are not right.


"We could do with a dry spell and we will have to see what the weather does," he said.

"Denman is entered in Ireland on the Sunday - I don't really want to go there and I suppose there is the Ascot Chase or coming to Wincanton for the CGA Chase.

"So there are a couple of options, but if he were to go straight to the Gold Cup without a run, so be it."

Denman, who has been off the track since his Gold Cup win last March, is the general 7-4 favourite for a repeat victory.

2.92 on betfair for the gold cup wich says to me everthing is going well with the preparations.

And a juicy 14/1 for the national with betfair(can`t see him running in this)