Early Career
Denman’s national hunt racing career began in England in 2006. He showed immense promise as a hurdler, winning his first two races at Wincanton. During his hurdles career he ran five races, failing to win only once, with a second place finish in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival.

Over Fences
Paul Nicholls realised he had a prospective champion on his hands after witnessing Denman’s early achievements, and switched Denman to steeplechases at the end of 2006. Denman achieved instant success, winning the WilliamHillCasino.com Novices’ Chase at Exeter in October of 2006.

Denman won both of his next two Novices’ Chases before landing his first big prize at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival where he won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, beating highly rated Snowy Morning in the process.

From that moment on the racehorse Denman proved to be unstoppable, taking a series of wins in top events including the prestigious Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. Many of his wins took place amidst small fields, which led some to underrate his abilities.

Denman entered the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup as second favourite, priced at significantly higher odds than his much fancied stablemate Kauto Star. However, in a race that the racing world will remember for decades, Denman ran with sheer determination to easily outclass the rest of the Gold Cup field and claim a famous victory.

Statistics
Hurdles: 5
Wins: 4
Placed: 1

Chases: 9
Wins: 9
Placed: 0

Total prize money: TBC
Timeform Rating: 178

Denman - Racehorse Profiled Preferences
It’s difficult to pin down exactly what kind of conditions the racehorse Denman prefers, as he seems to be able to apply his determined and powerful runs to any imaginable racing scenario. He runs effortlessly on a wide array of surfaces, and has taken races over distances ranging between 2 miles and 3 miles 2½ furlongs.

Denman - Major Wins
Cheltenham Gold Cup (2008)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase (2007)
Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2007)

The first of the Cheltenham Festival races for the day was the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, which started the run of unexpected Cheltenham Festival results as 20/1 Whiteoak took the winner’s title, followed by 10/1 Refinement. Race favourite Chomba Womba managed only third place.

The Ballymore Properties Novices Hurdle was another Cheltenham Festival race that saw all three ante-post front runners fail to make the frame. The win went to 7/1 Fiveforthree followed home by 11/1 Venalmar and 9/1 Trafford Lad.

The first big race of the day was the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle which was run in the absence of ante-post favourite Leg Spinner. The race went to 7/1 Naiad du Misselot, with Kicks for Free and Junior taking second and third place respectively.

The day’s hurdles highlight, the JCB Triump Hurdle, saw Paul Nicholls’ Franchoek fail to live up to his ante-post favourite billing, as he conceded a win to Celestial Halo with Won in the Dark taking third place.

With tension and excitement beginning to rise, the crowd at Cheltenham racecourse roared on the rookies in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Nenuphar Collonges, priced 9-1, won the race, with 16-1 Liskennett taking third place and The Tother One earning a show at 9/2 odds.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup lived up to its billing as the race of the decade as Denman proved his exceptional strength by beating a strong field with ease. Race favourite Kauto Star was unable to close the 7 length gap that opened up midway through the race, and Neptune Collonges impressed by setting the pace before settling for third place.

With the crowd still buzzing with excitement 33-1 outsider Amicelli won the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase. 13-1 Bon Accord claimed second place, followed by 40-1 Arctic Time.

The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase saw 15-2 Tiger Cry claim first place, whilst race favourite 4/1 My Petra only managed second place. Calatagan managed an impressive third place at 40-1 odds.

The Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle concluded the 2008 Cheltenham Festival races, providing another of the more surprising Cheltenham Festival results. 50/1 Jaro created a massive upset by easily beating pre-race favourite, 5/1 Psycho. French Saulaie took third place at odds of 40-1.

The day’s action started with the Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup. The much favoured Ornais was virtually anonymous in a race that saw 9/1 priced Old Benny take top honours. Over the Creek took second place as expected, followed by Back on the Line.

The Royal & SunAlliance Chase proved to be an intriguing Cheltenham Festival race, with late joint-favourite Albertas Run winning the race as co-favourite Air Force One faded into obscurity. Long odds outsiders Roll Along and Battle Cry took second and third place respectively.

The Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase confirmed its reputation as a tough race to call when none of the ante-post favourites managed to make an impact. Finger On the Pulse pulled off a first placed finish at 9/1 odds, followed by Barber’s Shop and Possol.

The first feature race of the day came in the form of the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase. The race proved to be a thriller with defending champion Voy Por Ustedes pushing Paul Nicholls’ ante-post favourite, Master Minded, all the way. Fair Along took third place.

The Ryanair Chase played out more or less as expected with Our Vic claiming first place whilst ante-post favourite Mossbank was forced to settle for second place ahead of an impressive Turko.

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle provided spectators with another thrilling Cheltenham Festival race as Inglis Drever made history by becoming the first horse ever to win three World Hurdle titles. Previous champion My Way de Solzen put in a brave fight before being overtaken by Kasbah Bliss and Kazal.

The Racing Post Plate provided the first major upset for the day when Mr McGoldrick won the race at 66-1 odds. Gwanako, tipped to come in third, managed a respectable second place ahead of Fundamentalist.

In the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle 18-1 outsider Ballyfitz surprised favourite Miko de Beauchene, whilst According to Pete claimed third place.

The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase was run in rain and gloom. Not one of the pre-race favourites made any impression on the event, as High Chimes won, followed by Openide and Burntoakboy.

The Weatherby’s Champion Bumper, the last Cheltenham Festival race of the day, was run in near darkness and freezing rain, as Cousin Vinny pulled off a surprise win, trailed home by Corkskeagh Royale and ante-post favourite Zaarito.

12:30 pm: The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle starts off the final day of racing at the Cheltenham Festival 2008, in a new early time slot. Ladbrokes have priced Chomba Womba at 5/2 to take victory in the only mares race at the festival.

1.05 pm: You can take your pick of three race favourites at top odds in the 2 mile 5 furlong Ballymore Properties Novices Hurdle. Aigle D’Or and Group Captain are also great bets at 9/2 odds with Ladbrokes.

1.40 pm: The 2008 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle features AJ Martin’s Leg Spinner as the clear race favourite at odds of 4-1, with 10-1 priced Song of Songs hard to ignore if you’re placing low stakes accumulator bets.

2.15 pm: In recent years the 2 mile 1 furlong JCB Triumph Hurdle has edged close to the Champion Hurdle and World Hurdle as one of the most coveted hurdle titles at the Cheltenham Festival. Look our for Paul Nicholls’ Franchoek in this race, widely tipped to win the Triumph Hurdle at 7/4 odds by Ladbrokes.

2.50 pm: The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle offers some of the best odds of the day with Carruthers, the favourite for this 3 mile race, priced at 5-1 Cheltenham Festival betting odds by Ladbrokes.

3.30 pm: The press would have you believe that there are only two contenders for the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup in Denman and Kauto Star, however Exotic Dancer at odds of 21-1 with Ladbrokes is an attractive bet in an upset.

4.05 pm: You can pick from a wide selection of horses with odder than usual names for the 3 mile 2½ furlong Christie’s Foxhunter Chase. Labrokes have priced Agus A Vic favourite at 4-1, whilst Lou Du Moulin Mas looks a good bet at Cheltenham Festival betting odds of 7-1.

4.40 pm: Grand Annual Handicap Chase is the last handicap chase of the Cheltenham Festival 2008. Run over 2 miles and ½ a furlong, this year’s race is set to be a competitive affair with five horses priced under 10, led by My Petra at Ladbrokes Cheltenham Festival betting odds of 4-1.

5.20 pm: The Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle winds down the Cheltenham Festival 2008 with the last opportunity to earn dividends off high odds. A brisk race over 2 miles and 1 furlong has produced a clear favourite in Psycho, priced at 6-1 by Ladbrokes.

Gambling Guru bet of the day: Reckon you’re psychic, incredibly lucky or simply a mathematics genius? You might want to try your hand at betting on the aggregate race winning distance at the Cheltenham Festival 2008 with Ladbrokes.

12:30 pm: The 3 mile ½ furlong Peter O’ Sullevan National Hunt Chase is first on the card, moved from day two. Ornais is a clear favourite, priced at 10/3 by Bet365 to beat his closest rival 5-1 priced Over the Creek.

1:05 pm: One of the most popular novices chases is the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase over 3 miles and ½ a furlong. Bet365 have German champion racehorse Air Force One and late favourite Albertas Run tied at the top off the odds table with good Cheltenham Festival betting odds of 4-1.

1:40 pm: The Jewson Novices Handicap Chase is run over 2 miles and 5 furlongs earlier than orginally scheduled on the 2008 Cheltenham Festival card. Dear Villez is the race favourite at odds of 9/2. His nearest rivals, Arturo and Barber’s Shop are priced at 8/1 by totesport.

2:20 pm: The Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase. Paul Nicholls has two big entries in this race with 5-2 priced Master Minded and 4-1 priced Twist Magic. Alan King’s Voy Por Ustedes will be looking to upset the apple cart at 11-4 totesport Cheltenham festival betting odds

2:55 pm: The Ryanair Chase is next on the 2008 Cheltenham Festival card for day two, pitting 11/4 Mossbank against 7-2 Our Vic over a stayer’s distance of 3 miles and ½ a furlong.

3:30 pm: The 3 mile Ladbrokes World Hurdle is another great feature race and the long distance counterpart to the Champion Hurdle. With outright favourite Sizing Europe running an awful race in the Champion Hurdle, punters are bound to be skeptical about Inglis Drever’s short odds favourite status. Blazing Bailey is a strong contender at 13/2 odds with totesport.

4:05 pm: The2 mile 5 furlong Racing Post Plate Handicap Chase is one of the 2008 Cheltenham festival handicap chase highlights. Ante-post favourite Don’t Push It has been priced very low for a handicap at 11/4 odds, making Bible Lord at 7/1 odds and Gwanako at 8/1 odds excellent bets.

4:40 pm: The Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle is the climax of several qualifying races. Reputations for this 3 mile handicap race are established over the course of the national hunt season, which means favourites Robin du Bois and Backboard must be good bets at odds of 5/1 and 7/1 respectively.

5:20 pm: The Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase is likely to be a closely contested affair. This marathon 4 mile 1 furlong thriller will feature 7/1 priced My Immortal and 8/1 Officier de Reserve taking on a strong field with nine runners priced under 20-1.

5:50 pm: The Weatherby’s Champion Bumper closes out a massive day of racing on the day three 2008 Cheltenham Festival card. This 2 mile ½ furlong national hunt flat race will see Apt Approach and Zaarito set off as joint 4-1 favourites.

Gambling Guru Bet of the Day: Bet365 have an interesting bet open on which race will be won by the biggest margin. Odds are excellent with the Gold Cup paying 13/1, whilst the World Hurdle pays 26/1.

For the rest, the 2008 Cheltenham Festival day one races delivered six action packed events, with upsets the order of the day as the fortunes of several race favourites were inverted by a Cheltenham old course turf that had soaked up half an inch of rain.

The day’s first race, the Supreme Novices Hurdle, set the tone for the rest of the day’s racing when 17/2 priced Captain Cee Bee romped home ahead of 8/1 Binocular. William Hill ante-post favourite Kyber Kim didn’t even make the frame.

The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy saw more of the same as race favourite Noland contented himself with third place, whilst first and second place went to long odds outsiders Tidal Bay and Kryguyrova.

The day’s feature race, the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, was the day’s highlight. Osana ran a scorching race, leading the pack much of the way before being overtaken by Robert Thornton on Katchit in the final stretch. Punjabi then saw off Sublimity to take third place. English horses took the first three positions in the Champion Hurdle, with Irish hopefuls Harchibald and Sizing Europe performing miserably over a heavy turf.

The William Hill trophy provided another thriller, as race favourite An Accordion fought valiantly to hold onto his lead, showing real spirit to claim the first victory for a favourite in the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. Outsider New Alco took second place, whilst the much favoured L’Ami had to settle for third place.

The last two Cheltenham Festival races of the day belonged to the Carberry family. First Nina Carberry took the Big Cross Country Hurdle on Grande Champetre, with rank outsider Native Jack pulling off a second place finish and A New Story taking third place.

It was then Paul Carberry’s turn in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novice’s Handicap Hurdle. Carberry rode Crack Away Jack to victory over the hotly tipped race favourite Ashkazar. Grand Schlem took third place.

Early Career
Kauto Star showed signs of his class when starting his racing career in France in 2003. The three year old won his first three hurdles races then endured a barren patch before being purchased by Paul Nicholls on behalf of Clive Smith at an auction.

Over Fences
Kauto Star was shipped to England in 2004 and made a sparkling UK debut with a win in a novices steeplechase event at Newbury. Kauto Star performed adequately in his first two seasons at the top level of national hunt racing, but only really started showing his real potential towards the end of 2006.

In the final months of 2006 Kauto Star won four races in succession, culminating in his first major title – the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park. This form held up throughout 2007 as Kauto Star claimed one of the biggest prizes in national hunt racing – the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Since crossing the channel Kauto Star has put in very few poor performances. He has failed to complete a race on only one occasion, falling at the 2006 Queen Mother Champion Chase. Billed as the favourite for the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Kauto Star was outclassed by stablemate Denman in one of the most eagerly anticipated Gold Cups in decades.

Statistics
Hurdles run: 10
Wins: 4
Placed: 2

Chases run: 16
Wins: 11
Placed: 4

Total prize money: £1,039,127
Timeform Rating: 184

Kauto Star - Racehorse Profiled Preferences
If there is one thing that defines Kauto Star it is his versatility. Kauto Star has won over every race distance from 1 mile to 3 miles 110 furlongs. His preferred race distance is 3 miles, and he has won every race he has run over this distance.

Kauto Star, reared on the soft turf of France, has retained a preference for good-soft and soft racetracks, winning 9 of his 12 races in these conditions. He is also capable to adapting to softer or harder ground and has won races on both good and very soft racetracks.

Kauto Star - Major Wins
Cheltenham Gold Cup (2007)
King George VI Chase (2006, 2007)
Betfair Chase (2006, 2007)

2:00 pm: You can take your pick of three race favourites at top odds in the 2 mile 5 furlong Ballymore Properties Novices Hurdle. Forpadydeplasterer is the short odds favourite at 4-1 with Paddy Power. Aigle D’Or and Group Captain are also great bets at 9/2 odds.

2:35 pm: One of the most popular novices chases is the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase over 3 miles and ½ a furlong. Paddy Power have German champion Air Force One and late favourite Albertas Run tied at the top off the odds table with good 2008 Cheltenham Festival betting odds of 4-1.

3:15 pm: One of the biggest steeplechases of the season is the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase. Paul Nicholls has two big entries in this race with 11-4 priced Master Minded and 7-4 priced Twist Magic. Alan King’s Voy Por Ustedes will be looking to upset the apple cart at 11-4 Cheltenham festival betting odds.

4:00 pm: The Queen Mother Champion Chase is followed up with a juicy handicap hurdle race, the 2008 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle. AJ Martin’s Leg Spinner is the outright race favourite at odds of 4-1, with 10-1 priced Song of Songs hard to ignore if you’re placing low stakes accumulator bets.

4:40 pm: The 3 mile ½ furlong Peter O’ Sullevan National Hunt Chase is predicted to give Paul Nicholls his second win of day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival races. Ornais is a clear favourite, priced at 10/3 by Paddy Power to beat his closest rival 5-1 priced Over the Creek.

5:20 pm: The 2 mile ½ furlong Wetherbys Champion Bumper concludes the second day of racing at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. This national hunt flat race will see Apt Approach and Zaarito set off as joint 4-1 favourites.

Gambling Guru bet of the day: You don’t need to place big stakes bets to make the most of the day two 2008 Cheltenham Festival races. With the great 2008 Cheltenham Festival betting odds on offer, simply placing a 1 Euro accumulator bet with Paddy Power on the favourite for each day two race could win you a 10,000 Euro payout in the event each of the favourites win.

2:00 pm: The Supreme Novices Hurdle is the first race of the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. The race is run over 2 miles and ½ a furlong. This race offers high odds for the favourites, with the short odds favourite Kyber Kim priced at 6/1 Chentenham Festival betting odds.

2:35 pm: The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy, run over a distance of 2 miles, is the festival’s first Grade 1 steeplechase. As is the case with many of the prized Cheltenham Festival events, the Arkle Challenge Trophy has drawn a strong field with race favourite Noland priced to win Paul Nicholls his first race of the tournament at odds of just under 2/1.

3:15 pm: The 2 mile 110 yard Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle is the first headline event of the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. Henry de Bromhead’s Sizing Europe is the race favourite at 2/1 Cheltenham Festival betting odds, but could struggle over a heavy turf.

4:00 pm: The William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase is run over a distance of 3 miles 110 yards. Despite its handicap status the race has produced a short-odds favourite in An Accordion at 4/1 Cheltenham Festival betting odds. However punters would be unwise to rule out strong contenders Monkerhostin and Patsy Hall, both priced under 10/1 by William Hill.

4:40 pm: The B G C Handicap Cross Country Chase is run over Cheltenham Racecourse’s unique cross country track. AJ Martin’s Wonderkid starts the race at 5/2 favourite, but may have real difficulty negotiating a heavy turf. Garde Champetre, priced at 5/1 looks like a good bet with previous wins over heavy turf.

5:20 pm: The Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle features 11th hour favourite Ashkazar, priced at 9/4 by William Hill. Trained by David Pipe, Ashkazar is well suited to conditions at Cheltenham racecourse and is a good bet over 4/1 rival River Liane.

Gambling Guru bet of the day: If you’re wondering how to best place your Cheltenham Festival free bets, why not have a look at William Hill’s betting special for the Champion Hurdle. William Hill are offering odds of 4/1 on Irish horses showing in the top 3 position in the Champion Hurdle, and are offering 2/5 Cheltenham Festival betting odds for the race winner to be Irish trained.

The latest casualty in the run up to the 2008 Cheltenham Festival is last year’s top jockey Andrew Thornton. Thornton was dislodged from his horse last week at Kempton Park, sustaining the 14th serious injury of his career by dislocating his shoulder. The injury is serious enough to keep Thornton out of racing for three months, which means he’ll also miss out on the 2008 Grand National – one of the few races he hasn’t won.

Meanwhile Irish jockey Graham Lee has also had bad news. His run on the 2008 national hunt champion jockey title has hit a brick wall with the National Horseracing Authority refusing him entry to the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. Lee suffered a fractured jaw and concussion as the result of a fall at Huntington in January.

Lee had sworn to do everything in his power to take part in this year’s festival, but fell at the final hurdle when the doctors from the National Horseracing Authority told him he hadn’t regained sufficient fitness to take part in the race.

With Lee trailing just behind Tony McCoy in the national hunt jockey championship, and poised to take the title from McCoy for the first time in eleven years, the experienced jockey has expressed bitter disappointment at his elimination from the event.

One man set to profit from Lee’s misfortune is Tony McCoy. Following weeks of uncertainty over his participation in the 2008 Cheltenham Festival following a fall at Warwick in January, McCoy was declared fit to participate in the 2008 Cheltenham Festival on Friday morning by the Britain’s highest racing authority.

Not only will McCoy be ecstatic that weeks spent in isolation chambers undergoing radical freezing therapy paid off, but he will also have the opportunity to prove his class by taking the reins of 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful Exotic Dancer. Furthermore, with Lee out of the running McCoy is certain to consolidate his lead in the jockey championship.

The injuries to Thornton and Lee will also mean that only Ruby Walsh stands between Tony McCoy and his first Cheltenham Festival top jockey title since 1998.