Omens Good For Denman

A host of big races in Ireland at Leopardstown on Sunday (10 February), including the prestigious Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

However, it wasn’t so much the performances of the participants in that race that grabbed the headlines, but more the boost the winner, The Listener, gave to Saturday’s hero, Denman.

The Listener was comprehensively beaten by Denman when the two met in Ireland over Christmas and so the success of Robert Alner’s gelding here further underlined the danger that Denman presents to reigning champion, Kauto Star.

The Listener was a comfortable winner here, leading throughout and quickening up well when challenged turning for home. His jockey, Daryl Jacob, didn’t think the horse stayed the Gold Cup trip at last year’s Festival so it is hard to see him being able to mix it with the Paul Nicholls’ pair at Cheltenham this year. Connections seem to be of the same mind, and look likely to aim The Listener at the Ryanair Chase instead. The question is, though, will he have enough speed for that race, if we get decent ground.

Of those in behind The Listener, Snowy Morning ran a race full of promise, staying on well to finish third after never really being put into the race by Ruby Walsh until after the winner had flown. He looks likely to bypass Cheltenham for a crack at the Grand National, which is a shame as he is likely to improve again in the spring and could easily sneak a place in the Gold Cup if allowed to line up there, as the race is likely to be set up for him.

Nickname was very disappointing back in sixth. He was beaten too far out for stamina to have been an issue and he confirmed our suspicions that he doesn’t seem in anything like as good a form this season as he was last. The worry for Kicking King’s fans is that the form of his comeback race, that looked so promising at the time, has now taken two major knocks, with both Newmill and Nickname struggling to uphold the form on their next starts.

Amazingly, it wasn’t just at Leopardstown that Denman’s Gold Cup hopes were further enhanced on Sunday, as Dream Alliance also gave his form a timely boost at Exeter.

Dream Alliance chased Denman home in the Hennessy at Newbury earlier this season, and would have won the big race at the Devon track had he not fallen two out with the race at his mercy.