Denman's second Hennessy victory was just amazing

BHA head of handicapping Phil Smith with a list of the five best weight-carrying performances of the last ten years in staying handicap chases

Denman
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, Newbury, November 2009

The best weight-carrying performance of the last decade. To win the Hennessy once carrying top weight off a rating of 161 was impressive, but to come back two years later and do the same again off a mark of 174 was just amazing. Of course, 'The Tank' was built for carrying weight but it is performances like Denman's with which jump-racing enthusiasts identify closely. I had him performing to 182 in his second Hennessy, the highest figure recorded in a handicap in my experience and the same level as when he beat Kauto Star in the 2008 Gold Cup.