Nicholls has been the most successful festival trainer for the last four years

Trainer Paul Nicholls insists Denman has every chance in next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup despite unseating rider Tony McCoy at Newbury recently.

Former winner Denman is one of five Nicholls-trained horses competing in chasing's premier race on 19 March.

"I was very happy with Denman's run apart from the mistake he made four out where he slipped on landing. He would have won otherwise," said Nicholls.

"Anyone who writes him off, writes him off at their peril."

Denman was the 1-6 favourite for the Aon Chase at Newbury on 13 February but clattered into a fence to unseat the champion jockey, who was on board the horse for the first time.

"All this nonsense about whether Tony McCoy is capable of riding him is the biggest load of twaddle I have heard in all my years in racing," insisted Nicholls.

OLIVER BRETT'S BLOG Kauto adores the cameras, playing peek-a-boo like a toddler as he pokes his head out of his box for a few seconds before disappearing inside again

"He is champion jockey and will ride him well in the Gold Cup. He was unlucky the other day."

Regarding Denman's chances in the big race he added: "If you had seen him do a racecourse gallop at Exeter before the Hennessy (Gold Cup, which he won for a second time in 2009), you would not have thought he'd win an egg and spoon race, let alone the Hennessy. Those sorts of days bring them along.

"Since Newbury, we have got a different horse. He has been tanking along and he will have three weeks of seriously hard graft now."

Denman's former jockey Ruby Walsh will be in direct competition in the big race, riding defending champion Kauto Star, who has become an even stronger favourite following his rival's recent defeat.

"He is well forward in his coat," stated Nicholls. "As last year, once he had won the King George we decided that he did not need to run again before the Gold Cup. He goes really well when he is very, very fit and very, very fresh.

"He improved a lot from the Betfair Chase to the King George. Ruby said Kauto Star needed it at Haydock and he was phenomenal again at Kempton. I think the King George was as good a run as he has ever put up.

"He looks fantastic - we are very, very happy with his progress. He did a nice bit of work this morning and it is now a question of fine tuning him."

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