Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh give their reaction to the Cheltenham Gold Cup clash between Kauto Star and Denman.
Kauto Star v Denman clash is on for 2010
TONY McCOY, (in the Racing Post) revealed on Saturday as the jockey who will ride Denman in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, thinks the dual Hennessy winner is the horse to capitalise on any chinks in the armour of reigning champion Kauto Star.
The champion jockey has never ridden Denman, but will be on board the horse they callThe Tank in the Grade 2 Aon Chase at Newbury next Saturday, before partnering the giant chaser in a mouth-watering clash with his Paul Nicholls-trained stablemate Kauto Star at Cheltenham on March 19.
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Saturday morning, McCoy, whose only victory in the Festival showpiece came aboard Mr Mulligan in 1997, said: “The Gold Cup being the race it is, and having those two horses in it this year, to get on one of them is every jockey’s dream – it’s great.
“Denman‘s won two Hennessys, a Gold Cup and is a very powerful horse. If there’s any chinks in Kauto Star‘s armoury, he’ll find them out – that’s for sure.”
Looking ahead to the Aon – a race the Paul Barber and Harry Findlay-owned gelding won en route to his Gold Cup success in 2008 – McCoy added:
“All being well, I’ll get to ride him next Saturday at Newbury, which is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Kauto Star and Denman have dominated the Gold Cup betting for most of the season and McCoy is expecting something special at Cheltenham.
He said: “They are two exceptional horses that are hopefully going to put on an exceptional show and hopefully Denman will come out on top.”
Ruby Walsh (in the Racing Post) admits that his decision to ride Kauto Star over Denman in the Totesport Gold Cup in March “was very difficult” and says he has “no idea” if it is the correct choice. Quoted in Saturday’s Irish Examiner, Walsh said:
“The reason for having to make such an early choice came when Denman‘s owners were anxious that whoever rode their horse at Newbury would also be aboard at Cheltenham. The reasoning was that they simply want Tony to get a feel of Denman at Newbury. That’s obviously fair to everyone involved, although I have to admit I would love to be able to sit on it for another couple of weeks. Denman‘s performance at Newbury is going to be crucial and, in an ideal world, I’d have wanted to wait until after that race. Anyway, what’s done is done and, as long as we both remain sound, Kauto and I will be seeking a third Gold Cup in five weeks and six days’ time.
“But I’m long enough in this game to know that so much can change between now and then. Tony and Iand Kauto Star and Denman have to arrive in one piece before all of this falls into place. It was a very difficult decision and I have no idea if I’ve got it right.”
Tony McCoy has been snapped up to ride the 2008 Gold Cup winner after Walsh told his owners that he would be staying loyal to Kauto Star, a horse who has provided him with two Gold Cup victories.
The two best horses and the two best jockeys will fight out the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 19 at Cheltenham!
Get your £25 free bet for the Gold Cup from Stan James
