Review LEOPARDSTOWN 28TH DEC

Denman went to post the odds on favourite for the 2007 renewal of the Lexus Chase and the Paul Nicholls trained seven-year-old failed to disappoint the hordes of race goers who were in attendance to see the Gold Cup second favourite.

Both Denman and fellow English challenger The Listener exchanged the front running role at stages with neither making a mistake over the three-mile trip and turning in it was the two and Mossbank who came down to settle it out.

Denman and Ruby Walsh went a couple of lengths clear on the turn and from there the gap was never closed and eventually the pair ran out four-length winners from Mossbank and The Listener who were separated by just a head at the death.

In what was a slowly run race, Denman had a bit to spare and while it may not have been as impressive as some may have expected, it could really not have been much better. He remained unchanged at 2/1 second favourite with Sean Graham and Cashmans, while Paddy Power, William Hill and Boylesports but pushed him out to 2/1, 15/8 and 9/4 respectively.

Following the success of Kauto Star earlier in the week Walsh has a major decision to make and afterwards the champion jockey said, 'Today was Denman's day and Wednesday was Kauto Star's day the main thing now is that the two of them get there in one piece and the way I am going more importantly that I get there in one piece.'

Winning trainer Paul Nicholls simply stated, 'There is not a lot I can say, he said it all himself really. I was slightly worried that they weren't going quick enough but I don't know the track as well as Ruby and I just left it to him.'

Nicholls concluded, 'He hardly had a blow today and as to where we go next, I have nothing set in stone and he will probably get an entry for the Hennessy back here and there is also the Aon Chase at Newbury.'

Jockey Andrew Lynch had to be at his strongest to get Notre Pere up by a head denying Abbeybraney and Conor O'Dwyer for trainer Jim Dreaper in the Grade 1 Novice Chase over three miles.

The six-year-old followed up his Punchestown win earlier in the month to score here under Lynch who was deputising for injured jockey Robert Power. The pair struck the front at the second last and got the better of the ding dong battle after the last.

'I would expect the heavier it would be the better he would stay and the ground was borderline today but we took a chance. He is a hardy, intelligent horse who was a natural jumper and we will go for the good staying novice chasers, I am just not sure where we will go next. He will be entered at Cheltenham. There is a lot of our younger horses who would beat him at home but I have seen that before. Morning glory is no good to you in this game, you want them to do it after lunch.'

Sweet Kiln who was pipped at the post on her last two runs behind Noel Meade's Jazz Messenger and Aitmatov got just reward for her consistency when winning the Grade 2 woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle. The eight-year-old was sent off the 11/10 favourite for the three-mile contest and adopted new hold up tactics under Tom Doyle rather than the normal front running role the Bowe horses are so usually accustomed to.

It was a decision which worked to perfection as Sweet Kiln came to lead at two out and went on in a snug manner to hold off Sonnyanjoe back in second.

Michael Bowe revealed after the race that the decision to not go to the front came after her last two defeats, 'She deserved that after the run she has had. Myself and Tom sat down and discussed dropping her out as we felt that she would have got bad habits had another horse come up and beat her on the line - she would nearly be expecting it to happen.'

On future plans the winning handler said, 'I would love to let her run in the new mares race at Cheltenham, I think she would have a great chance and she deserves a crack at it. She is a genuine tough mare and is a real stayer.'

The opening race of the day was landed in good style by the Davy Russell ridden Made In Taipan who made all the running for trainer Tom Mullins, brining the country's current leading jockey up to 85 winners for the season.

Major Sensation continued the great run of Arthur Moore when landing the second race, the Mogney Communications Novice Handicap Hurdle in the colours of JP McManus and the leading owner was denied a double in the penultimate race on the card when the stewards controversially reversed the placings of Streets Of Gold and Deutschland with the latter getting the verdict to give Ruby Walsh a double.