McCoy to ride Denman in Gold Cup
Saturday, 6 February 2010 11:36Tony McCoy will ride Denman in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on 19 March.
McCoy received the call-up to partner the brilliant chaser as Ruby Walsh, Paul Nicholls' first-choice rider, has remained loyal to stablemate Kauto Star.
The 14-times champion jockey has yet to ride Denman, but will be at the helm for the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday week before renewing acquaintance at Cheltenham.
Joint-owner Paul Barber told the Daily Telegraph: "In fairness to Paul Nicholls, we had to lay the ghost.
'I'm sure Ruby would have wanted another four weeks to decide, but we have reached our decision - McCoy rides.'
Denman has only ever been ridden under Nicholls' tutelage by Walsh, Christian Williams and Sam Thomas.
Thomas did the steering when the popular chestnut won the 2008 Gold Cup, defeating the Walsh-ridden Kauto Star by seven lengths, but was also on board when he fell at Aintree last spring.
Barber feels the recruitment of McCoy will bolster the chances of Denman wresting away the Gold Cup from Kauto Star, who last year became the first horse in history to regain the Cheltenham showpiece.
He said: 'We know that to be taking on Ruby on Kauto Star, we need to have a jockey who is at least his equal.
'We wouldn't want a situation where we were theoretically giving away several pounds.
'You can't do that if you want to win a Gold Cup.'
McCoy is relishing the prospect of going head to head with Walsh and Kauto Star in March.
'On Friday night I went to bed dreaming of Gold Cups,' said the jockey.
'Needless to say, I am delighted to be riding Denman at Cheltenham and I can't wait to take on Ruby on Kauto Star.'
