Denman's day of opportunity to draw looks of envy from super Star next door

At home, the king and the pretender are separated merely by a grille. It is an equivocal barrier: impenetrable, yet full of holes. The time is at hand, however, when the racecourse can disclose how much truly divides them.

There could be no more intimidating token of the resources available to their trainer, Paul Nicholls, than this physical proximity between Kauto Star, the outstanding steeplechaser of recent years, and Denman, whose standing among last season's novices was no less exceptional.

From adjacent stables, they can stare at each other any time they like. Their stalls share the same beams, and the same rustic tiling, with a weathervane perched above. After the restoration of his sovereignty at Haydock last weekend, the arrow has turned firmly back towards Kauto Star, who had been beaten (when completing) for the first time in two years on his reappearance at Aintree.

But those who believe that Denman could yet usurp him can comfort themselves that Kauto Star's example permits him a degree of latitude when he makes his comeback at Newbury today. At Aintree, Kauto Star was giving a stone to the horse that beat him, Monet's Garden. In the same way another horse being trained for Cheltenham in March, Voy Por Ustedes, recently ran an excellent race at the weights when failing narrowly to concede 26lb on his return to the fray.

Nicholls has been using both these examples as he contemplates Denman's prospects of giving weight to all his rivals for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, historically one of the most competitive steeplechases of the season. He has also suggested that Denman is a "gross" sort that is to say, he takes plenty of work to get fit though the fact is he has never been beaten after a break.

Come to that, he has only once tasted defeat, when a fine second over hurdles at the Festival. His impeccable start over fences last season included a couple of joyous exhibitions here at Newbury, and he confirmed that he does not need deep ground when thrashing Snowy Morning by 10 lengths in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase. That performance was reminiscent of Looks Like Trouble or Florida Pearl in the same race, and fully entitles him to his big weight today.

But there's the rub. Snowy Morning, for instance, is allowed 18lb this time. With trainer and jockey commanding such respect, it is easy to picture him making that count. Though there have been times when he has looked awkward under pressure, Snowy Morning is a grim stayer and has long looked ideally equipped for this race.

Whether the same might be said of Abragante is another matter. His glib performance at Wincanton confirmed him as an unusually talented animal, but he is ridden tenderly for a reason. As such, Davy Russell is an ideal replacement for the suspended Timmy Murphy, but it must be doubted what he will find off the bridle and this race seldom allows any horse to remain within its comfort zone.

New Alco represents a flourishing stable but requires a career best off 146, having run third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last year off 130. Knowhere, in contrast, filled the same position in the same race this time round off 151, again finishing strongly. He has long suggested that he will find improvement over longer distances, but had lost his form completely when tried over three miles last season. At 20-1, he looks great value.

Patsy Hall has moved to a feared stable, and Sir Rembrandt was rejuvenated on his first start for Victor Dartnall, going with unfamiliar gusto from a long way out. He is undeniably well handicapped on his best form. But while Denman is definitely going places and can legitimately be expected to finish miles ahead of him at Cheltenham in March this could be the day for going KNOWHERE (nap 2.40).

Harchibald's speed can shame critics

Love him or hate him, nobody can deny that today's entertainment is greatly enriched by the return of Harchibald in the WBX "Fighting Fifth" Hurdle at Newcastle. A personal view is that he has been grossly maligned by accusations of cowardice, in that he offers so little off the bridle only because he gives so much without being asked.

Either way, his injury problems in the past two years have robbed the hurdling scene of much colour, so it was gratifying to see him make such a spirited comeback on the Flat. There remains a possibility that he can no longer achieve the sort of form he showed in this race three years ago, but Hardy Eustace his absolute antithesis in terms of palpable commitment cautioned against such assumptions at Ascot last Saturday.

Hardy Eustace is going to be campaigned over longer distances this season, and the suspicion persists that the same policy might serve Al Eile well. His storming finish in the Cesarewitch confirmed that stamina is his main asset, and the emphasis on speed today will surely suit Harchibald (3.30).

The horse auditioning for the role of Hardy Eustace today is Katchit, who is afforded all the respect he deserves in the very short odds against him in this, his first run in open company. There is better value against the other emerging force, Blythe Knight, who goes from strength to strength under both codes in the skilled hands of John Quinn.

Meade contender to find Kiln too hot

Harchibald's trainer, Noel Meade, had hoped to run Jazz Messenger this weekend, but he picked up a cut when scoring at Punchestown. At least this is only a temporary hold-up, in contrast to the career-ending mishap that has struck perhaps the best hurdler in the stable, Iktitaf. But the depth of Meade's reserves can be measured when he saddles the favourite for the Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse tomorrow.

Aitmatov has followed the same path this autumn as Iktitaf last year, and is entitled to keep in step with his progress. That is exactly what he is going to have to do if he is to beat Sweet Kiln, the latest galloping machine discovered by the extraordinary Bowe family. With the extra half-mile in her favour, she can outstay rivals that may prove more at home over a bare two miles.

This race is one of three Grade One races run in barely an hour. The Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle has introduced a series of future champions over recent years: between them Istabraq, Moscow Flyer, Like-A-Butterfly, Hardy Eustace and Newmill went on to win a dozen times at the Cheltenham Festival. Such a success is already on Cork All Star's CV, and the Champion Bumper winner made an immaculate start over hurdles here last month. The opposition includes Megans Joy and Muirhead, striking recent winners at Down Royal.

But the race of the day could be the Drinmore Novices' Chase, which brings together Kazal, winner of all bar one of his seven starts over timber; Sky's The Limit, disappointing in his first season over fences but infinitely better on his resumption at Cork; French Accordion, who has soared up the ranks during his last four starts; and Line Ball, really impressive on his return from a long absence at Fairyhouse.

It is safe to say that an impressive success for any of these would already identify one of the Irish bankers for Cheltenham.

Envoy must stand up for Merrigan

The televised agenda today includes two items of unfinished business from last weekend. Mind you, it says a lot about the warped prize-money structure of British racing that Special Envoy, in stepping up in class for the Totesport Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, can win only half of what slipped through his grasp when falling at the final hurdle in a handicap at Haydock.

Anyone who witnessed the tragi-comic reaction of Paddy Merrigan will be wishing the young man well, and there are grounds for believing that Special Envoy (next best 2.05) is good value. Still completely unexposed at this kind of distance, he will allow the elusive Black Jack Ketchum no place to hide, and discover any chinks in the fitness of Inglis Drever, seeking his third win in this race.

In contrast with Special Envoy, Leading Man (3.00) got no further than the first fence at Aintree on Sunday. As they say, he was going well at the time. But he has clearly done himself no harm and all the points in his favour then a promising comeback and a charitable handicap mark remain pertinent in the WBX Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.

Back at Newbury, Maljimar (3.15) will have obvious credentials if Knowhere has run as well as expected in the big race. He ran that horse close at Cheltenham on his comeback and is now introduced to one AP McCoy.