Denman: will be ridden by Tony McCoy for the first time in the Aon Chase

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com  

McCoy: Denman can find chinks in Kauto Star

TONY McCOY, revealed on Saturday as the jockey who will ride Denman in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, thinks the dual Hennessy winner is the horse to capitalise on any chinks in the armour of reigning champion Kauto Star.

Tony McCoy:"it's a dream"

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham  

The champion jockey has never ridden Denman, but will be on board the horse they callThe Tank in the Grade 2 Aon Chase at Newbury next Saturday, before partnering the giant chaser in a mouth-watering clash with his Paul Nicholls-trained stablemate Kauto Star at Cheltenham on March 19.

Speaking on Sky Sports News on Saturday morning, McCoy, whose only victory in the Festival showpiece came aboard Mr Mulligan in 1997, said: "The Gold Cup being the race it is, and having those two horses in it this year, to get on one of them is every jockey's dream - it's great.

"Denman's won two Hennessys, a Gold Cup and is a very powerful horse. If there's any chinks in Kauto Star's armoury, he'll find them out - that's for sure."

Looking ahead to the Aon - a race the Paul Barber and Harry Findlay-owned gelding won en route to his Gold Cup success in 2008 - McCoy added: "All being well, I'll get to ride him next Saturday at Newbury, which is something I'm really looking forward to."

Kauto Star and Denman have dominated the Gold Cup betting for most of the season and McCoy is expecting something special at Cheltenham.

He said: "They are two exceptional horses that are hopefully going to put on an exceptional show and hopefully Denman will come out on top."