Gold Cup hero retires

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman has retired. His owner Mr Paul Barber hailed Denman as “one of the greats” after injury forced connections to call time on the legendary staying chaser’s incredible career.
Trainer Paul Nicholls had the 11-year-old all set to embark upon what was likely to be his final campaign, which was due to begin in the Lexus Chase, a race he won four years ago, at Leopardstown, but once a tendon injury was discovered after a routine piece of work earlier this week, Barber and Nicholls had no alternative but to retire the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup and dual Hennessy Gold Cup winner.

Barber said “We’ve decided to retire him as there was no way I was ever going to take any chances with him. He’s given us so much pleasure – he’s been a wonderful horse for us.”

Denman enjoyed a successful career in novice hurdles but marked himself as a real star when switching to fences and destroying his rivals by upwards of 10 lengths in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival before going on to win the Gold Cup in 2008.

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