Heroes.

When Denman and Kauto Star approached the final bend in the 2011 running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup together, I and the majority of racing fans, who were either watching on the TV or at Cheltenham itself, were overcome with emotions as they roared the “old guard” home. This was the race we’d wanted in the three previous years which they had raced against eachother in the very same race. In 2008, Kauto had been injured and wasn’t fully fit, Denman won the race. In 2009, Denman had, had a lacklustre return to racing after a major heart operation the previous autumn but amazingly finished a gallant second to Kauto who regained the Gold Cup and in 2010, Kauto had a horrendous fall and Denman was beaten by Cheltenham specialist, Imperial Commander. We all wanted one of them to do it again this year, (apart from Long Run’s connections, of course!) but their efforts in defeat were so heroic, it didn’t matter that they were beaten by much younger legs because they owed nobody anything anyway.

The ovations they received when returning to the Winners’ Enclosure were so phenomenal it was unbelievable. They were clapped all the way in, when they were being unsaddled, and then when they left to go back to the stables.

Both horses have had such long and illustrious careers winning 32 races in Britain and Ireland collectively. They’ve been amazing horses but they couldn’t have been as amazing without some very important people. Paul Nicholls, it goes without saying really, the man who has trained both horses throughout their time in England. However, he would never take all the credit himself. Donna Blake and Clifford Baker have both ridden out the pair during their time at Ditcheat. Lucinda Gould and Nick Child who are their current grooms. Dan Skelton who is always down at the start whenever Denman is running to make sure he sets off and has a major role in the training for all the horses down at Ditcheat. Ruby Walsh, Sam Thomas, Christian Williams, AP McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald and the few other jockeys who have been lucky enough to ride them and for most of the mentioned jockeys, win on them. And all the other people who have rode the two horses out and looked after them. They’re all very lucky people who deserve 100% of the credit they are given.

I feel so lucky to have been alive in an era where we have had two amazing racehorses like Kauto Star and Denman. Of course, we have had others such as Best Mate, Hedgehunter, Big Buck’s, Master Minded, etc but none of them will ever be as good – to me – as those two have been. When my Grandparents sit and tell me stories about Arkle, Rummy and Dessie, I always think to myself, it won’t be those horses I’ll be telling my children and grandchildren about, it will be Kauto Star and Denman, for they are horses of a lifetime.