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Gold Cup war of words7th March 2008
The gloves came off for the Kauto Star v Denman showdown today, when owners Clive Smith and Harry Findlay exchanged verbal blows over who will prevail in the heavyweight clash for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
At an event that resembled a big fight weigh-in, neither man gave an inch as each advanced persuasive cases that their horse will win the contest.
Findlay, owner of Denman with Paul Barber, threw down the gauntlet by predicting Denman would "crush" Kauto Star, to which Smith retorted his horse would "quell this Denman upstart".
The sparring, hosted at Sandown to publicise Kauto Star's shot at a second consecutive Betfair Million, marked the start of a promotional drive ahead of the most eagerly awaited racecourse clash for years.
Findlay, who dubbed the race as 'The Tank' versus 'The Maserati', admitted a debt to Kauto Star, on whom he has punted so profitably, but he believes there is a doubt about the champion staying the trip with Denman in the field.
"We know what is going to happen," he said. "Denman is going to come down the hill, Kauto is going to come at us.
"If Kauto Star is on the bridle and he stays, he'll go past us. If it comes to a war we'll crush him. We'll break his heart."
Responding to the "diatribe" from Findlay, Smith said: "I just don't take this at all. We can beat Denman. We will beat Denman. I know Denman is a relentless galloper. The races he won were the Hennessy and the Lexus.
"His times there were quite well over standard. If you look at Kauto's times, we are ten seconds better, and that's quite a long way to me. I frankly think we have a great chance to quell this Denman upstart.
"You should get your entry in for next year's Grand National now, Harry!"
Findlay is not paying too much attention to the weather forecast as Denman's clash with Kauto Star looms ever closer.
It has been well documented that Findlay believes Denman will expose any stamina doubts in Kauto Star's armoury should the ground come up testing at Prestbury Park on March 14, but the ever-confident owner does not believe that is the only way his charge can defeat the reigning champion.
The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old is unbeaten in all eight of his starts over fences and as long as the ground is not lightning quick, Findlay thinks there will be no excuses.
He said: "The one thing we don't want is fast ground, but that isn't going to happen.
"The forecasters all seem to disagree about how much rain we are going to get. Whatever happens I don't think it will be heavy ground and our horse will handle whatever he gets. He has won on good but has looked useful in a bog.
"We do have everything else in our favour, so to want heavy ground to make it a real slog is unfair!"
Elsewhere on the track, Totesport unveiled their open top double decker ‘battle bus', with livery featuring giant photos of the two horses, which will tour England to raise public awareness of the clash.
The fit-again Tony McCoy is looking forward to a crack at the big two with last year's runner-up, Exotic Dancer:
"I sat on him (Exotic Dancer) this morning and he is in great shape. Kauto Star and Denman are the ones to beat, but Exotic Dancer was second last year and is officially rated 1lb higher than Denman.
"Hopefully if they get in a duel, we can come and nick it off the both of them.
"It (the publicity generated between Kauto Star and Denman) is good for racing - it's getting a lot more publicity. But if you are competing against them there is nothing more you want to do than beat them and that will make it even more enjoyable."
Gold Cup jockey's Sam Thomas (Denman's rider, left) and Ruby Walsh (Kauto Star's rider, right) alongside the battle bus!