Paul Barber is looking beyond the Grade 2 Totesport Bowl at Aintree and is itching for Denman to lock horns again with stablemate Kauto Star.

Denman, trained by Paul Nicholls, has thrived since a gallant failure to repeat last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup success when runner-up to Kauto Star and Barber, co-owner with Harry Findlay, says the nine-year-old is in great form.

He said: "The mountain he had to climb at Cheltenham was huge and we're very proud of him.

"He's very well and let's just get him back to Cheltenham for another Gold Cup. If it is soft ground, then I think he will give Kauto Star a run for his money."

Though many expected Ruby Walsh to take over at Aintree tomorrow, Barber and Findlay have stayed loyal to Sam Thomas, who guided Denman to victory at Cheltenham last season.

Denman will have one less opponent to face in the three-mile one-furlong chase after Nicky Richards's Monet's Garden was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a tendon injury.

The 11-year-old, who finished sixth in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last time, has suffered a minor tendon injury.