Barbers Shop receives 18lb for the 20 lengths he finished behind Denman when they were second and seventh to Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Denman, who carries 11st 12lb, is 7-2 favourite with Skybet, while Barbers Shop is best-priced at 6-1 with Paddy Power.
Barbers Shop was running a big race when he made a bad mistake at the third last at Cheltenham. That cost him any chance of catching Kauto Star and if he is to prove himself a genuine Grade 1 performer, this is the ideal opportunity for Barry Geraghty's mount.
While there is a question mark over his stamina for what is sure to be a gruelling race, he should certainly improve with age, as most of Saddler's Hall stock tend to do.
Paul Nicholls boldly tempered his enthusiasm over Denman's chance earlier this week.
The champion trainer said: "He's in great form and twice the horse he was last season.
"If he performs like he did in last year's Gold Cup, then he's got a great chance of winning.
"But you have to remember that when he won the Hennessy he was well handicapped. He's much higher in the ratings now."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson part-owns 7-1 shot What A Friend, who is also trained by Nicholls. This young, rising star certainly fits the profile of a Hennessy winner.
He does not have much weight and appears to have plenty of improvement in him. He goes best when fresh and won on soft ground on his first start last year, so appears an obvious alternative.
Paddy Power Gold Cup fourth Ballyfitz has plenty of stamina and for a horse who will be staying on at the death tomorrow, he's over-priced at 20-1 with the Tote and could make the frame.
