Thomas lined up for Cup reunion with Denman

The top jockey, whose career has stalled since a number of high-profile falls two years ago, is being lined up to ride the Paul Nicholls-trained horse in this month's Hennessy Gold Cup.

Nicholls is without a No 1 jockey after Ruby Walsh broke his leg in two places at the weekend – he will be sidelined until late January – while young conditional Harry Skelton is also out of action with a broken collarbone.

Having appeared to lose confidence in Thomas, the champion trainer has clearly noted the jockey's eyecatching victory aboard the galloping grey Nacarat in Wetherby's 100,000 feature 10 days ago.

Thomas rode a victory for Nicholls at Sandown on Saturday and the trainer's landlord Paul Barber, who now owns Denman, is clearly keen to sort out jockey bookings at the earliest opportunity.

"I shall be very surprised if Sam doesn't ride Denman in the Hennessy and I hope he wants to ride him," said Barber. "We haven't actually offered Sam the ride, but he knows all about it. The horse is in very good form."

Thomas and the frontrunning Denman looked invincible when winning the 2007 Hennessy and then the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following March.

Yet, after the horse recovered from a cardiac complaint to finish a heroic second to stablemate Kauto Star at Cheltenham in 2009, Denman and Thomas parted company at Aintree three weeks later in spectacular fashion.

The consequence was that Thomas lost the ride on the liver chestnut and appeared to become the latest in a long line of jockeys to be declared surplus to requirements at the Nicholls yard where success is expected in every big race.

Much of the criticism was unwarranted – the horses in question simply did not live up to their star billing in the major races where Thomas was replacing the injured Walsh. The jockey became a convenient scapegoat as his confidence ebbed away.

The last two years have been a formative experience as the rides dried up; it is incredible to think that Nacarat was Thomas's biggest success in that period.

His new-found level-headedness is likely to be his greatest asset in the weeks ahead.

As well as the possible running of the aforementioned Kauto Star, an already intriguing Hennessy line-up at Newbury in late November is likely to include the Ferdy Murphy-trained Big Fella Thanks.

Previously trained by Nicholls, the staying chaser switched to Murphy's West Witton yard when professional gambler Harry Findlay – a former co-owner of Denman – severed his links with the champion trainer following a high-profile betting controversy.

Although Big Fella Thanks was only second on his Carlisle reappearance yesterday after being caught on the line by the fast finishing Massasoit, Murphy confirmed that the Grand National-fourth is Newbury-bound.

"It was a very encouraging run, though he probably hit the front too soon," he said.

"Graham (Lee) got an absolutely fantastic feel off him and while the ground was probably soft enough for him, he jumped awesome and we couldn't be happier with him.

"He'll head for Newbury now and while he'll be running from out of the handicap, he'll only carry 10st and he'll think he's running loose."

Paddy Power clearly expect more improvement from Murphy's charge, making him 14-1 for the Hennessy and Massasoit, trained in the Westcountry by Colin Tizzard, a 16-1 chance.

TOP Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien is looking for a new stable jockey after Derby-winning rider Johnny Murtagh severed his links with the Coolmore and Ballydoyle breeding operations.

Murtagh began his role two years ago and guided the brilliant Yeats to two of his four victories in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Most recently, he guided Cape Blanco – winner of York's dante Stakes in May – to victory in the Irish Derby. William Hill make Pat Smullen the 6-4 favourite to land one of racing's top jobs.

French-based Belgian Christophe Soumillon is next best at 7-2, with Ryan Moore 5-1 and Kieren Fallon, who was given the job back in 2005, is 7-1 from 9-1.

WONDER mare Goldikova is to stay in training as a six-year-old following her historic third successive Breeders' Cup Mile success.

The French-trained ace took her Group One tally to 12 thanks to her latest win at Churchill Downs and now her sporting connections are planning a farewell campaign.