Paul Nicholls has a lot going on for him at the moment when you consider that it is his two horses, the famed Kauto Star and Denman, who are creating huge controversy with the upcoming Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
Even prior to the 2008 Cheltenham Festival Nicholls seemed to be torn between the two horses stating: 'Kauto is the ultimate professional and as the reigning champion will be hard to beat while Denman is the young pretender and wants to knock Kauto off his perch. Denman is a tank and a tough slogger. Kauto has more finesse but they are both very very good. Everything Kauto has done this season suggests he is as good or better than last year. Nobody knows how good Denman is or might be.' Well we all know that Denman pulled in first in that race, defeating his rival, stablemate and the previous year's winner, Kauto Star, but the tables were turned again in 2009 when Kauto Star beat Denman. This year with both horses in the running again, Denman competing for his second Gold Cup and Kauto Star for his third, it seems like Paul Nicholls would have had enough on his plate. But no, the end of January saw the champion trainer celebrating a big-race victory that came not from the likely suspects of Kauto Star and Denman, but from Taranis. The Angela Yeoman-owned Taranis has been sidelined for the past two years with a serious leg injury, but his easy comeback victory in the Grade 2 Argento Chase has led him to be cut to as short as 20/1 for the Gold Cup. When Yeoman was buying Taranis he failed his veterinary examination on a technicality but Nicholls told her that it was still best if she bought him, because if she didn't he would be winning the Gold Cup for someone else. The nine year old 16/1 chance was ridden for the race, for the first time, by Nick Schofield even though Yeoman had hoped that Ruby Walsh would take the reigns. Walsh wanted to ride Inchidaly Rock, which gave way for Schofield whose riding style obviously suited Taranis. Taranis powered six lengths clear of the favourite Carruthers, and Nicholl's first reaction when Taranis won was 'I'm astounded to be honest with you, I never dreamed he would come back like that. He'll go straight to the Gold Cup now.' It may go beyond the realms of probability that Taranis could beat his stablemates in the Gold Cup, or in any race for that matter, but William Hills have quoted Nicholls at just 4-1 to saddle the race's first three finishers. Schofield will keep the ride for the Gold Cup while riding arrangements for Denman and Kauto Star are to be left until closer to the race itself, although it is speculated that Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy will be in their saddles. Nicholl's What A Friend is thought to be missing the race in favour of the Grand National.Article Tags: Kauto Star
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