Haydock 'bike track' off Denman agenda

Paul Nicholls's dissatisfaction with the new narrow track at Haydock is set to see the Lancashire course miss out on the reappearance of Denman next year.

And the champion trainer, who called Haydock "a bike track" this week, is even considering giving the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner his 2009 debut over hurdles - although the Aon Chase at Newbury on 7 February, as first reported in Standard Sport in early October, remains the most likely option.

The Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on 17 January had been hinted at for Denman's first run of the season, but Nicholls appears to have ruled that out as he feels the new tight turns at the track, that have been introduced since the chase course was moved, wouldn't suit.

Denman's reappearance has been delayed after the eight-year-old was found to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat in September and Nicholls said: "He is not quite ready to run at the minute. He's working along nicely and I've still got it in my mind that the Aon is the target.

"However, I've suggested to Paul Barber (Denman's half-owner) that we might run him over hurdles before Newbury, but in all probability he'll start in the Aon."

Meanwhile, Belcantista, ante-post gamble for Saturday's Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot, has sneaked in one from bottom in the 21-horse line-up.