Denman: Legend Of National Hunt

Alastair Down recalls the horse's incredible 2007 Hennessy Gold Cup win in a general appraisal of the staying chaser's wider achievements. Video produced by Nick Lightfoot.

[@paulfish5074]

This horse will always hold a place in my heart. The most brave and special of horses. That 2008 GC. The way he flew up the hill was better than anything you could write. Simply sensational. RIP The Tank.

[@roberto4001000]

He's was all out up the hill you fool .

[@heron9524]

Why are you calling him a fool? Show some respect!​@@roberto4001000

[@warriorb6733]

Remorseless relentless the ultimate staying chaser in my mind, what a warrior,

[@roberto4001000]

You've never heard of Arkle ?

[@stevelee4952]

Denman. I have been a nh fan for 60 years. I have seen so many horses that i.took to my heart. Royal Relief, Border Incident, Crisp, Bula, Pendil, Dessie, but nothing gets close to the big fella.

[@666jockie]

Some horses just strike a chord with you and Denman did that for me. Doesn't matter who's the best because everyone will have a different opinion, but even now I still get a tingle watching Denman storm up the Cheltenham hill in 2008 and even in defeat the 2011 gold cup remains a classic battle between Denman and Kauto Star. 2 forever all time greats .

[@goldcup11]

+666jockie Too true, we will never see their likes again (unfortunately). I loved Denman. I have been watching NH, especially the staying chasers, for 40 years. I have seen plenty of good ones, but there was something different about Denman. I don't know quite what it was. his braveness, his refusal to accept defeat, his never say die attitude?? I don't know. Of all my memories of him (and we all have a special one) my favourite is of him, beating a quality field (under top weight) to win his 2nd Hennessey in 2009. Great memories. great horse.

[@AtrrukHead]

Nah mate ur 100pct ryt he's still a legend and always will be

[@lennyreed5119]

Dawn run and Borough Hill lad for me and im a big fan of kauto and denman

[@brooklynbuster9264]

I agree same with me in 2008 when he stormed up that hill wow you hats what won my heart

[@robertkiely4380]

Recently passed away aged 18. RIP Denman

[@paulbryant1042]

A truly great horse.👏🐴

[@rfairweather9362]

Great to see footage from the Hennessy Gold Cup from 2007, the best performance I've ever seen from a horse. The big meetings just aren't the same without Denman.

[@nantes23]

All power. All guts. All class. He is best remembered by me for his sheer guts in finishing 2nd in 2009 & 2011 Gold Cups.

[@lennyreed5119]

And he came 2nd in 2010 gold cup

[@mclaughlinstonham]

RIP Denman. What a legend.

[@mrcool1706]

Paul Nichols's masters of the universe. Alistair is a true wordsmith

[@ThomasDoubting5]

Allister down is the master of the racing voice over..

[@joythornz]

There is only one horse that etched in my memory and heart...Denman.

[@goldcup11]

+joythornz Couldn't agree more. A bit too young to remember Arkle. I started watching NH and especially the staying chasers about 75/76. We've all seen a lot of good ones in that time, but Denman was special. Thanks for the memories old boy.

[@makoceans]

This documentary failed to mention that in the 2008 summer, Denman had serious heart problems which made him lose the start of the next season and he only came back almost a year later in Feb 2009 getting beat 23 lengths by Madison Du Berlais and a month later 13 lengths by Kauto Star. Clearly he wasn't the same horse as before!

[@liamhudspith8228]

makoceans because all the lime light has always been on kauto like you've just said they did not mention the serious heart problem he had kauto wouldn't of got near denman if it wasn't for that injury

[@dannyeldergolf]

In the 2008 gold cup Neptune collonge finished the same distance behind denman as he did in 2009 when kauto won it. So on that basis denman ran to form in 2009 and the heart thing wasn't an issue

[@drombohowes830]

@@liamhudspith8228 rubbish

[@deangreig929]

​@@dannyeldergolf so by that logic if you want to go down that road they met 4 times and denman beat kauto 3-1 👍

[@christosorthodoxou1176]

denman the legent

[@christosorthodoxou1176]

the best ever

[@liamhudspith2603]

No 3mile chaser was better then Denman he was a utter machine until he sadly had to have a massive heart op only then kauto star could finish In front of him! Fair enough kauto was more versatile but Denman going left handed nothing would of touched him! Denman the legend!

[@drombohowes830]

Kauto injured before the 08 gold cup after Ascot. He wasn't fresh and ran awful. The 2009 kauto was way better than denman and was the greatest since arkle. Fact

[@roberto4001000]

Arkle would destroy Denman you fool .

[@gordonrundell3260]

​@@roberto4001000 all you go an about is Arkle what part of the greatest of the modern era is it you lot can't grasp?

[@roberto4001000]

@@gordonrundell3260 Arkle is the Greatest, end of .

[@markbrocklehurst3764]

Legend. My favourite horse of all time, just in front of Dessie and Rummy. Only my opinion but I'm sure had he not that heart problem he'd have won 2 or 3 Gold Cups. To even run in a Gold Cup after the problems he had is unbelievable but to finish 2nd for the next 3 times, trying his heart out is nothing short of miraculous! And that's not dissing Kauto because he was a fantastic horse. Just think Denny would have beat him in peak condition. And to win 2 competitive Hennessys both times at top weight....wow!

[@Dessienewshoes]

No bigger heart

[@barbaradyson6951]

If I owned a horse like denman I would never sell him

[@fcarr4862]

RIP

[@mikecroucher2771]

The best horse there has ever been, period.

[@roberto4001000]

Educate yourself you fool, Arkle was, and still is the best racehorse there'll ever be .

[@davidharrison9501]

proper horse as commentary said closest to arkle mill house kauto was the peiple horse they said as he was the chestnut but the tank was all black bit like darth vader someone wrote

[@nickjames3055]

Kauto Star was bay, not chestnut. And Denman was Dark bay.

[@jameswatson79]

What's the music in the background at the start and last of this video?

[@coxsapples3414]

James Watson If you find out let me know!

[@JPFlawless82]

@@coxsapples3414 it's taken me years. But I finally found it. The Cost of Courage.

[@damienocallaghan7914]

Cheltenham Gold Cup was the finest moment for The Tank Do yourself a favour Type it in

[@conwardy]

Best National Hunt horse so far this century?

[@Nautilus1972]

Rated what, 29 pounds behind Arkle? Think about that for a second.

[@anonymousanonymous3707]

Neptune dosnt get the credit he deserves

[@barbaradyson6951]

Why oh why would you sell your horse like denman, certainly not me.

[@brooklynbuster9264]

One of the best!! I agree definitely the best chaser

[@robertdelacy3434]

Arkle was the best

[@brooklynbuster9264]

I agree was great chaser

[@brooklynbuster9264]

Denman is a personal favourite

[@roberto4001000]

Arkle was far superior you fool .

[@jessicadon8392]

🙈🙈 Dangerus sport 😳😳 why they must jumping so fast... Why not to begin.. Or why they make not new regulations.. New order s new hour and not so fast for jumping and after new hours and then fast... 🙈🙈

[@mrcool1706]

Clear off, get out of it

[@robertorobins8938]

Wtf you’re on about sweetheart 🧐