Nicanor outguns well backed Denman
Wednesday, 15 March 2006 16:04Nicanor gave the huge Irish contingent plenty to cheer about as he took the opening Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
Noel Meade's charge was cruising approaching the final bend as hot favourite Denman hit the front and Paul Carberry just bided his time on the 17-2 shot before easing away on the run-in.
Denman, the 11-10 market leader, had to settle for second, with the mare Refinement staying on up the hill to claim third.
Nicanor's stablemate Mr Nosie set the early gallop as Carberry settled in the pack and Denman took up a prominent position on the outside.
As Carberry worked his way through, Ruby Walsh sent the Paul Nicholls-trained Denman to the front but the writing was on the wall as Nicanor came with a double handful at the last.
A good leap at the final flight sealed matters and Nicanor accelerated away to a two-and-a-half-length win, with Refinement a further six lengths back in third.
Carberry told Channel 4 Racing: "I was further back than I wanted to be but he was always going so well. I knew jumping the second-last I had a bit left.
"He jumped the last a little bit tight, but I put my head down and he galloped all the way to the line. He was brilliant."
Meade told Racing UK: "We've always thought he was a very good horse. He's always worked well at home and he's been in fantastic form.
"Having said that I couldn't actually be sure he was going to beat the other horse (Denman). He's got plenty of pace and he's a very nice horse."
