Denman’s performance in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown didn’t satisfy people in the same way that his stablemate Kauto Star had done a few days before at Kempton but for me it was the performance that decided where my money is going in the Gold Cup.

Kauto Star may have the star quality but the question marks regarding his jumping at Cheltenham remain in my mind but with Denman this area looks rock solid.

Denman’s attacking style of running has been a joy to watch in his last three runs and this front running style will test Kauto Star’s jumping and stamina in a way it has never been tested before.

I can’t wait for the Gold Cup and only wish I was on at a bigger price!

The market for the Supreme Novices is starting to take shape and the recent wins of Khyber Kim at Newbury and Whatuthink at Leopardstown have attracted some interest from the bookmakers.

Oliver McKiernan’s Whatuthink was the game, all-the-way winner of the Future Champions Novice Hurdle and his victory was perhaps most notable in that it appears to have burst the bubble of Cork All Star. Jessica Harrington’s Champion Bumper Winner finished 3 lengths third here and confirmed the fact that his jumping would need to improve markedly if he is going to be a factor in a Cheltenham Novice Hurdle.

The winner has been cut to around 16/1 at the time of writing but that looks a little skinny for the shorter Novice race at Cheltenham as there is stamina in abundance in Whatuthink’s pedigree and doesn’t appeal as Supreme winner.

More interesting is the Nicky Henderson trained Newbury winner, Khyber Kim. Listed class on the flat he has had his problems with injury but appears to be highly thought of by his powerful yard and has been the subject of strong support since his opening victory. Perhaps, his potential fragility is a worry but he looks one to consider for that all important opening race of the 2008 Cheltenham Festival.

The World Hurdle had been looking a bit of a dull betting heat with double champion Inglis Drever dominating the market but the Steel Plate and Sections Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day has certainly given things a bit of a kick.

The race had been billed as mainly concerning Afsoun, Black Jack Ketchum and Witchita Lineman but Alan King’s Blazing Bailey proved much too strong for them all and recorded a convincing victory.

I’m not too happy with the result though as I had marked Blazing Bailey down as the stayer to follow for this season after his honourable third in the World Hurdle. I’d been primed and ready to back him this season as I was convinced he would impriove with another year on his back but he has turned in two abject performances and I was beginning to wonder if something was amiss.

Now, of course, after demolishing the Steel Plate field Blazing Bailey is down to around the 6/1 mark for the 2008 World Hurdle and whilst there is still some appeal in that price, it’s not what it should have been.

Pundits on Attheraces were not overly impressed with the standard of opposition put up against Blazing Bailey stating that the bookmakers have overreacted by cutting him to single figures for the staying crown. I have to disagree. I appreciate that the Jonjo O’Neill horses might not have been at their best but this looked a race full of quality and Alan King’s young horse has more scope than most at the top of the betting in this market and warrants very close inspection.

Give us your thoughts on the World Hurdle – Do you think Blazing Bailey is the horse to beat or is there an outsider way down in the betting that could give us a better run for our money?