Confidence high in Denman camp ahead of Gold Cup

And, when he says Denman, the equine superstar he co-owns with Paul Barber, will be a worthy favourite for next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup if he wins his prep race today, then punters should take note.

For Findlay, a larger than life character who was a one-time stalwart of greyhound racing in South Yorkshire, says he's backing his 10-year-old to beat the brilliant Kauto Star and regain his Gold Cup crown – a contest already being billed as the 'race of the century'.

Buoyed by Denman's incredible weight-carrying performance to win the prestigious Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on his last outing – the venue for today's pivotal Aon Chase – Findlay and Barber have also secured the services of Tony McCoy, the 14-times champion jockey, after Ruby Walsh chose to stay loyal to Kauto Star.

Last night, Findlay said it was crucial that Denman and McCoy raced together before their date with destiny at Cheltenham, and where the money will be down.

"I'm really glad Tony is riding. I wouldn't like the idea of going into a Gold Cup riding him for the first time," he said. "Denman can be a bit of a character and a bit quirky, but he's got to win and I'm expecting a really good performance."

Despite his well documented heart problems, Denman was still a heroic second to his illustrious stable companion in last season's Gold Cup, and Findlay has everything crossed the pair make it to Cheltenham once again.

"I was standing in the winner's enclosure and Denman got a better reception than the winner," added Findlay.

"I thought 'next year surely can't happen', but to be one race away from going there again is incredible.

"If Denman comes through at Newbury, I'd make him favourite for the Gold Cup.

"I'll be backing him to win it, in view of the fact that the three and a quarter miles is in our favour rather than Kauto Star's.

"What I've always loved about this game is the big head-to-head clashes and hopefully we've got one again, because I don't think Cooldine is the real deal and I don't think that Imperial Commander will stay the trip."

Yet, while Findlay looks ahead to the prospect of his personal battle with the bookmakers, trainer Paul Nicholls is just looking for a sound display today to put the flamboyant jumper "spot on" for Cheltenham.

Denman won the Aon Chase en route to glory in steeplechasing's most prestigious prize in 2008, although little went right the following season due to heart problems.

"It has worked well winning this race on the way to Cheltenham before," said Nicholls.

"In an ideal situation you need a run at this time of year.

"It's not essential, but it was always in his programme to have a run here as mentally it does them all good to get out.

Denman's five rivals include stable companion Tricky Trickster, a leading Grand National contender.

It promises to be a pivotal day for Nicholls and his Cheltenham aspirations, with Master Minded, his two-time Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, back in action an hour after Denman's race.

Having suffered a broken rib on his only race this season, the performance will show whether the two-mile champion is in the form to take on the pretenders to his crown such as Ferdy Murphy's Kalahari King, a brilliant winner at Doncaster last Saturday.

Nicholls has slowly nurtured his charge back to full health and is hoping for a good performance in the Game Spirit Chase ahead of his bid for a third Champion Chase crown.

"We'll know today if we can get him right back to his best. I've been very pleased with what I've seen," he said. "I have been very impressed with him since he came back into work, he looks fabulous and when he won the Champion Chase two years ago his run before was in the Game Spirit, so it fits in nicely."

Five runners go to post for the Grade Two contest with former Champion Chase and Arkle hero Voy Por Ustedes, owned by Yorkshire businessman Sir Robert Ogden, dropping back to two miles after disappointing in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown. However, the Alan King-trained gelding needs a prep run head of his Festival target, the Ryanair Chase.

"Realistically we are facing an uphill task facing Master Minded on 10lb worse terms on official ratings, but it's a prep run for us before Cheltenham," said Sir Robert's racing manager Barry Simpson.

"We are there to race – it's not ideally suited for us but we have no other choice. I never say we can't win, but realistically we shouldn't win."