RACING:A run in the John Smith's Grand National seems unlikely for Denman unless something goes wrong in his pursuit of back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups.
The nine-year-old has not been seen in racecourse action since winning National Hunt's blue riband last March after suffering from a fibrillating heart, but is on course for a return, possibly in the Aon Chase at Newbury on February 7th.
Recent reports have suggested a start in April's Aintree spectacular is high on champion trainer Paul Nicholls' agenda, but he admits a defence of his Gold Cup crown remains Denman's number one priority.
"We've entered Denman for the Grand National but that is as far as it has got at this stage," Nicholls told Teletext. "If he has a hard race in the Gold Cup like last year that would make it improbable but if something went wrong or he fell at the first, we'd kick ourselves if he wasn't entered.
"It will be some time before a final decision is made so any speculation otherwise before then is exactly that."