Denman defended by Harry Findlay

Enigmatic owner Harry Findlay has jumped to the defence of Denman, who could finish only fourth to Planet Of Sound in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup yesterday.

The 10-year-old put up a headstrong display going right-handed, which left jockey Tony McCoy admitting he was "unrideable at times".

But some reports of Denman's demise had Findlay fuming. He said: "He ran a great race. Without any exaggeration, he lost about 30 lengths in running because he wanted to go the other way round.

"I've seen reports that said it was a 'sorry sight' and a 'desperate showing' but those people must be off their heads because he was like that as a novice and I've said all along that he's likely to do something like that at any moment in terms of character, because he's a lunatic.

"But his ability can't be questioned. I'm not 'proud' of the horse. Proud is a term you use for people who fight in wars. But he's not lost any of his shine with me.

"He was better than he looked in the last three years so we had to run him but no one was more anti right-handed than me."