Kauto Star Vs. Denman

If I had a Euro for the number of times somebody has tried in recent days to end an argument on the respective merits of Kauto Star and Denman by saying, “We’ll find out once and for all on Gold Cup day,” then I’d have almost enough money to pay the bookmakers’ bills that will soon be landing on my doormat.

If I had a Euro for the number of arguments that have flared since last year’s Gold Cup on the subject of which, of the great two, will win next time they meet, I’d have enough money to travel first-class to France on a train made out of solid gold, buy myself a Cheltenham winner (French bred of course), buy a villa on the Côte d’Azur and enter a season’s worth of European Poker Tour events.

As ever, a big race like last year’s Gold Cup left no questions definitively answered and, following Denman’s demolition of a Hennessy field last weekend under the burden of top-weight, there are those who think he can regain the Gold Cup title he took from Kauto Star in 2008 and lost, to Kauto Star, in the 2009 rendition.

I rarely get involved with the hype promoters and newspaper spin on to major sporting events, particularly horseracing. However, when Kauto Star wins the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day for the fourth consecutive year, the stage will be set for a showdown that the following two centuries of steeplechasing will struggle to match.

Many would love to see the same three men who hoisted owner Harry Findlay on to their shoulders after Denman’s 2008 victory once again admitted to Cheltenham’s General Hospital complaining of alcohol poisoning and back trouble.

Sometimes I wish I was more like Harry, who has a form of colour blindness that means he can’t see any shades of grey. For him, Saturday week past saw Denman produce a performance that will absolutely blow Kauto’s head off come March.

Not me, I am resident in the Kauto Star corner and hope the horse who, on his achievements to date, deserves more recognition that the fabled Desert Orchid, lands his third Gold Cup in sensational fashion.

As in poker, this horseracing is all about opinions. I am yet to earn a euro out of anyone who believes that the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will be something other that Denman or Kauto Star.