Harry plots Star’s fall

That is the verdict of Harry Findlay, the professional gambler who jointly owns Denman.

Talking tough: Findlay with Gold Cup hope Denman

He believes that Kauto Star's reserves were not truly tested last season in a slowly-run Gold Cup and jockey Sam Thomas will be under orders to ensure the Ruby Walsh-ridden reigning champion, dubbed The Maserati, runs out of petrol.

Findlay said: "If you stop the tape three out last year, everything is going perfectly. They've gone no pace. But from two out to the winning line, was he more impressive than Exotic Dancer?

"His King George win was no form because Racing Demon threw the race away by jumping right-handed and Tony McCoy took a calculated tactical risk on Exotic Dancer and it didn't come off.

"I do think he looked awesome when winning at Ascot on Saturday but going back to last year there has to be that doubt.

"He beat Exotic Dancer two lengths. Would anyone be surprised if Denman had beaten Exotic Dancer 10 lengths? Of course they wouldn't.

"They've got to prove that they stay the trip in the Gold Cup and I think that is the possible chink in his armour.

"I'll be very surprised if we are not in front going out on to the second circuit. It'll be come and get us."

Kauto Star's foot infection that had the racing world in temporary panic on Saturday evening has not caused any disruption to his training. The shoe was returned to his off-hind yesterday morning and he resumed cantering.

Gold Cup sponsors totesport marginally favour Kauto Star at 5-4 favourite over 11-8 chance Denman in the heavyweight clash which has being hailed as the biggest jump racing dust-up since Arkle beat Mill House in the 1964 running of the race.

While the racing authorities appear slow off the mark in realising the priceless promotional opportunity in front of them, the media invasion of trainer Paul Nicholls' stable yesterday suggested that the world outside racing is getting the message that something very special might be just over three weeks away — a race-off between two outstanding champions at the top of their game.

With all the focus on the big two who share adjacent stables in the Somerset stable, it is easy to overlook the strength of Nicholls' overall challenge. Around 30 runners will give him hopes in every race at the Festival apart from the Champion Hurdle and World Hurdle.

Master Minded, the likely mount of Walsh, and Twist Magic share 5-2 favouritism for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Noland (3-1) heads the Arkle Trophy betting.

Lined up behind them are Breedsbreeze (Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle), Celestial Halo (Triumph Hurdle), Elusive Dream (Spa Hurdle), I'msingingtheblues (County Hurdle), Rippling Ring (Supreme Novices'), Silverburn (Sun Alliance Novices' Chase) and Turko (Ryanair Chase).

With four winners at last year's meeting, Paddy Power make him 11-10 to train five winners or more.

Doing that over four of the most unpredictable days of the racing year is a tough ask, even for the sport's current dominant force, but the trainer is sure of one thing — that Findlay's view on Kauto Star's stamina limitations are wrong.

Nicholls said: "I haven't even got a doubt about it and neither has Ruby because the faster they go the better for him. He has got that high cruising speed. He'll just be able to creep into the race. I'm not worried at all."