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William Hill Denman Chase
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Grade 2 Handicap, Newbury 14:25
£85,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus,
2m7½f, Class 1   
Saturday 8th February 2025

BetGoodwin

1 Djelo 6/4F
2 Hitman 4/1
3 Bravemansgame 3/1
7 ran NR: Le Patron Distances: 3½l, 6½l, 5½l
Time: 6m 5.80s (slow by 17.80s)

Djelo showed real grit to battle his way to victory, justifying favouritism in determined fashion for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.

Sent off the 6-4 market leader in a field of seven, the gelding was stepping up to an extended three miles for the first time, and both trip and testing ground played to his strengths. Deutsch kept things simple, allowing his mount to settle before pressing on with two to jump. A slightly untidy leap at the last did little to dent momentum, and he stayed on strongly to finish three and a half lengths ahead of Hitman, who had to settle for the runner-up spot in this race for the third consecutive year.

Behind them, Bravemansgame, the 2022 King George winner, plugged on for third, another six and a half lengthsadrift.

Bookmakers were quick to react, with Paddy Power slashing Djelo’s Ryanair Chase odds from 20-1 to 12-1, and Williams made no secret of her preference for the two-and-a-half-mile contest over the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

“A week ago, we were looking at the Game Spirit, but just before the Denman entries closed, I thought, ‘We need to be in that,’ and thankfully it’s worked out,” she admitted.

“He’s not in the Gold Cup—no regrets there—but the Ryanair looks ideal, and longer-term, I see him as a King George horse next season. He’s matured, he’s learning to settle, and that makes all the difference.

“Charlie had the final say on tactics, and he got it spot on. We didn’t want him too keen early, so he dropped him out and got him into a rhythm. When he finally pressed go, the turbo kicked in quickly.”

The victory also marked a financial milestone for the stable, as Williams’ yard has now surpassed £1 million in prize money for the season, with owner Peter Davies moving into second place in the owners' championship.

Paul Nicholls, meanwhile, was satisfied with the performances of both Hitman and Bravemansgame, confirming that the duo will now head straight to Aintree for the Randox Grand National.

“They’ve both run well and will take their chances in the National,” he said.

“Harry (Cobden) felt Bravemansgame is looking after himself a little these days, but he’s still loving his racing. He’s had some tough battles over the years, and while he may not quite be the force of old, he’ll keep going for another couple of seasons yet.

“They sprinted away from him from two out, and the younger legs had the edge today. But he and Hitman both jump and travel well, and whether they see out the trip at Aintree, only time will tell—but they’ll both give themselves every chance.”

With Aintree looming and Cheltenham decisions to be made, the Denman Chase has once again provided plenty of talking points—none more so than Djelo’s emergence as a serious force at the top level.

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William Hill Denman Chase
£85,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 7f 86y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Djelo 7 11-8 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 6/4F
2 3½ Hitman 9 11-2 Paul Nicholls Freddie Gingell 4/1
3 6½ Bravemansgame 10 11-2 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 3/1
4 5½ Sam Brown 13 11-2 Anthony Honeyball Sam Twiston-Davies 16/1
5 ¾ Ga Law 9 11-6 Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 8/1
6 1¼ Fugitif 10 11-6 Richard Hobson Sean Bowen 12/1
7 14 Eldorado Allen 11 11-2 Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell 22/1
NR 4 Le Patron 7 11-5 Gary & Josh Moore NON RUNNER

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William Hill Denman Chase – Roll of Honour

YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY AGE/WEIGHT SP RAN

2024 SHISHKIN Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 10 11-8 8/11F 5
2023 ZANZA Philip Hobbs Tom O'Brien 9 11-2 16/1 7
2022 ELDORADO ALLEN Colin Tizzard Brendan Powell 8 11-06 6/1 5
2021 SECRET INVESTOR Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost 9 11-00 14/1 7
2020 NATIVE RIVER Colin Tizzard Jonjo O'Neill Jr 10-11-06 2/5F 6
2019 CLAN DES OBEAUX Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 07-11-06 2/5F 4
2018 NATIVE RIVER Colin Tizzard Richard Johnson 08-11-06 8/11F 3
2017 NATIVE RIVER Colin Tizzard Aidan Coleman 07-11-06 11/10 3
2016 HOUBLON DES OBEAUX Venetia Williams Aidan Coleman 09-11-00 3/1 7
2015 CONEYGREE Mark Bradstock Richard Johnson 08-11-05 15/8F 6
2014 HARRY TOPPER Kim Bailey Jason Maguire 07-11-10 7/2 5
2013 SILVINIACO CONTI Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-10 8/11F 8
2012 LONG RUN Nicky Henderson Mr Sam Waley-Cohen 07-11-10 4/7F 5
2011 NOLAND Paul Nicholls A P McCoy 10-11-00 13/2 5
2010 TRICKY TRICKSTER Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-03 8/1 6
*2009 MADISON DU BERLAIS David Pipe Tom Scudamore 08-11-06 12/1 7
2008 DENMAN Paul Nicholls Sam Thomas 08-11-10 1/4F 4
2007 KAUTO STAR Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-00 2/9F 6
2006 Abandoned – Frost
2005 FARMER JACK Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson 09-11-06 12/1 8
2004 SHOOTING LIGHT Martin Pipe Richard Johnson 11-11-00 33/1 8
2003 VALLEY HENRY Paul Nicholls Barry Geraghty 08-11-06 4/1 6
2002 BACCHANAL Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 08-11-10 5/4F 7
2001 SHOTGUN WILLY Paul Nicholls Joe Tizzard 07-11-10 4/1 5
2000 SEE MORE BUSINESS Paul Nicholls Mick Fitzgerald 10-11-10 1/3F 6

*Run at Kempton Park when Newbury’s card was abandoned because of snow