Denman named Horse of the Year
by Oli Skehan , 13 May 2008
Denman was named Horse of the Year at the Anglo-Irish Jump Racing Awards in London on Monday.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup hero picked up the prestigious award for his stunning performances in both the UK and Ireland where as well as landing the spoils at Prestbury Park he also triumphed in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, Lexus Chase and Aon Chase.
Those performances earned him a rating of 182 but it was his stable-mate Master Minded who emerged with the highest figure of the year.
The Paul Nicholls inmate, who won the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in supreme style, was handed a rating of 186.
The awards were decided upon by a panel of seven, headed by British Horseracing Authority head of handicapping Phil Smith and senior National Hunt handicapper of the Irish Turf Club, Noel O'Brien.
"The Horse of the Year title goes to the horse who has made the greatest contribution to horse racing on both sides of the Irish Sea," explained Smith.
O'Brien added: "Denman has only been beaten once in his life and was highly progressive throughout the season.
"He won the Hennessy off top weight and then provided us with one of the most mouth-watering Gold Cups for years with the champion taking on the champion-in-waiting.
"Kauto Star wasn't at his best during the Gold Cup but Denman jumped brilliantly, forced the pace and was a worthy Gold Cup winner."