February 10 / 14.05 Newbury

14.05

Soft

Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £48407.5
  • 2m 7f 86y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

4/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.73
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 121-RU C

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 173

Form & Verdict
13-19 under rules, including six Grade 1 wins; withdrawn due to heavy ground in December but won on it early in career; refused to race on reappearance, with the application of cheekpieces seemingly a factor; unlucky in the King George at Kempton (3m, good) since, as he might well have won but for stumbling and unseating just after two out when in the lead; compensation awaits, provided things go smoothly for the first time this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

11th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Shishkin

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Won this last year (good to soft); refused to race on reappearance (his sole outing in cheekpieces); may well have won the Grade 1 King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December but for stumbling/unseating just after two out; ready Grade 2 win at Newbury (2m7f, heavy) in February; didn't run in last month's Gold Cup due to an unsatisfactory scope and there remains a question mark regarding the form of the stable, but he's a key player if at his best.

5/2

4th

6

11th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Shishkin

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Won this last year (good to soft); refused to race on reappearance (his sole outing in cheekpieces); may well have won the Grade 1 King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December but for stumbling/unseating just after two out; ready Grade 2 win at Newbury (2m7f, heavy) in February; didn't run in last month's Gold Cup due to an unsatisfactory scope and there remains a question mark regarding the form of the stable, but he's a key player if at his best.

5/2

1st

2

10th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 1

14:05 Newbury

Shishkin

11st 8lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

jumped left on occasions, raced in second, not fluent 3rd, not fluent 13th, pressed leader after 4 out, led 3 out, soon faced challenge, not fluent last, ridden and kept on well run-in

4/6

12/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 236-09 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Capable of smart form but is only 3-17 over fences; well held in Cheltenham handicap most recently; beaten favourite (runner-up) in a weaker renewal of this contest in 2023; needs the leading players to disappoint.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Hitman

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

10yo who has become inconsistent and hasn't shone on his last two starts; however, he has a good record over regulation fences here and has the same mark as when winning the Old Roan (2m4f, good to soft) last October; prominent for a fair way in last season's Grand National; not written off.

33/1

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Hitman

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Runner-up in this race last year and he ended a long losing sequence in the Old Roan at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance; however, he's less consistent than he once was and he was well held in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time; needs to bounce back from that.

8/1

3

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Hitman

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

9yo who has won just one of his last 21 starts and struggled on his final two outings last season (albeit in Grand National on first occasion); however, he often runs very well, as when runner-up in this race last year (good) and in 2022 (good to soft), and there's every chance he'll be bang there.

6/1

Form: 45-432

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 165

Form & Verdict
5-15 over fences; seems to handle heavy ground; flopped when bidding for a repeat win in the Betfair Chase but back in better form since, most recently second to L'Homme Presse in valuable event at Lingfield (2m6f, soft); big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Protektorat

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

11yo whose last Grade 1 win came in March 2024 but he showed strong form when keeping on for second of four to Jonbon in the Melling Chase here (2m4f, good) 12 months ago and has won at Windsor (2m6f, soft; warm conditions race) and Kelso (extended 2m7f, good to soft; Listed) on his two runs this year; he should still be fine at this sort of trip and could be a contender.

15/2

1st

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

13:40 Kelso

Protektorat

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Tremendous campaigner who has netted connections over £1m in prize-money; jumped right on occasions but was still firmly on top at finish in valuable conditions chase at Windsor (2m6f, soft) six weeks ago; usually races up with the pace; the clear pick on form and very much the one to beat.

1/8

1st

6

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Protektorat

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Bolted up in this race last year (soft); reappeared with very creditable third off a lofty mark in handicap at Cheltenham (3m3f, soft) in November; wind surgery since; this 11yo holds stand-out claims on today's terms.

8/11

Form: FF-P51 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
4-17 over fences; 3-5 on heavy ground; took well to first-time visor at Warwick (3m, soft; rescheduled from Sandown) most recently, winning the big prize for veterans; faces a stiffer task on these terms but could go well in the retained visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Sam Brown

12st 0lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

The oldest of these veterans, being a 14yo, and bare form this term leaves a question mark over whether he retains the useful ability that has been present for a long time; however, won this race off 2lb higher last year (soft) and has a good chance if back on song.

9/1

10th

1

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Sam Brown

12st 0lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

Useful for a long time but has gained last three wins in veterans' events and, having turned 14 since November reappearance, can be opposed off current mark in this field.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: F13-P4 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
4-10 over rules fences; creditable third, one place behind Hitman, in a substandard edition of this race last year; well behind Protektorat at Lingfield most recently; plenty to find on balance of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Cheltenham

Does He Know

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Very useful staying chaser when on song and has pretty good record at Cheltenham; pulled up at Exeter two starts ago and didn't find much at the business end when third of four at Carlisle (3m, good) last month but it won't be a surprise if he runs a big race here.

11/2

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Cheltenham

Does He Know

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Very useful staying chaser when on song and has pretty good record at Cheltenham; pulled up at Exeter two starts ago and didn't find much at the business end when third of four at Carlisle (3m, good) last month but it won't be a surprise if he runs a big race here.

11/2

3rd

1

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

16:30 Carlisle

Does He Know

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

taken down early, raced in second, pressed leader 13th, led narrowly 3 out, headed when hit last, weakened and lost second run-in

9/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.00
Straight Forecast £7.45
Trifecta £18.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Shishkin

The Times:

Protektorat

TOPSPEED:

Sam Brown

Daily Mail:

Protektorat

Daily Mirror:

Protektorat

The Star:

Protektorat

Daily Record:

Protektorat

RP RATINGS:

Shishkin

POSTDATA:

Shishkin

LAMBOURN:

Shishkin

Telegraph:

Shishkin

The Guardian:

Shishkin

D Express:

Shishkin

The Sun:

Shishkin

WEST COUNTRY:

Sam Brown