• Horse Racing

Denman 'very likely' to run in Scottish Grand National

ESPN staff
March 31, 2010
Denman should excel in soft conditions at Ayr © Getty Images
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Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Denman is "very likely" to run in the Scottish Grand National, according to champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Nicholls feels that the meet at Ayr racecourse on April 17 will be well suited to the 10-year-old Denman - particularly if the rain continues to fall.

"He's very likely to run," Nicholls said to The Guardian. "We've got to monitor the ground situation because it can get fast up there at this time of year but we've had a very, very wet spring. I haven't got many options with him, to be honest. Aintree's not really his track, it's too tight and sharp unless the going's testing.

"I'm keen to run him somewhere because he's not getting any younger and he's only had three runs this season. He is incredibly well after the Gold Cup, he's been working for 10 days now and he's fine."

Hazel Peplinksi, clerk of the course at Ayr, confirmed that the going is currently soft. "It started raining during our last meeting here on Thursday and we've had about an inch since then. It's rained all day today and this week it's just constantly raining up to Easter Saturday and very cold as well. We might get some snow and I'm just praying that it won't lie. I don't think it will.

"So it probably is a Denman year for Ayr. I'm sure the Scottish racegoers would love the chance to see him. It sounds as though they're keen to come here."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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