Denman's had a breathing op...

nicholls has become fasinated with giving his horses breathing ops,it works for some horses,doesnt for others!

Good point actually! It's almost as if they're sent out with a threat..."Win impressively, or you're having a wind op!!"

I just agreed with him saying he hadn't been finishing his races off...assumed he'd already had one before though!

FFS was there really any need!? He's just ran as well as ever he's coming up 11 and they think he might have a breathing problem. He's bound to be getting a little slower and finding it harder in a finish giving away bags of weight to the rest of the field.

I think it confirms one thing; March 18th 2011 is the last time Denman will be seen on a racecourse! They're going all out for one last assault.

Tend to agree with Masterminded - one would hope that the discovery of something which affected their breathing was a prerequisite to a breathing op as opposed to merely not finishing their races well (which is subjective - how much better could he have been expected to finish at Newbury lto?).

Maybe there is/was an actual breathing problem but Nicholls should say so.

My breathing ain't great at the end of a half marathon and I don't finish so well - have n't considered a breathing op though

This is a funny one. It smacks a bit of desparation.

If he has had a breathing problem, I'd love to have seen his Gold Cup and Hennessey wins if he oculd breathe properly!

very surprising that the man who tells the media everything and is so open choose to keep this quiet very weird

I think wind op's these days are seen as a way of attempting to improve a horse rather than correct a problem!

What a monster Denman been and if this is to be his swansong I think its good form from his last race and he must be placed at very least in GC.
He always ran best fresh and i am amazed it took PN this long to fathom it out and give him long break.
If he gets into his rhythm early and left alone up front i think he will have them all at turning in.
There seems to be ifs and buts about most of leaders in betting
IC - Not run since Haydock after sustaining cut leg.
KS - King George looked not himself,done for sped which has been his fortee
LR - Question mark remains around Cheltenham, and his jumping style
DH - seems a Newbury specialist, gotta met Denman at levels,tough task
Pandorama - injury may stop him coming over.
MC - Winning handicaps is bit different to gold cups.

Wouldn't surprise me to see something at big odds get involved, always remember YAHOO agst Dessie and then there was Norton Coin to name but two.

Nightwalker - couldn't agree more.
I've said for a while that 2011 could see a 33s/50s winner - question marks against everything in the race.
Two I was interested in were Cooldine and Kempes, the former is done for the year, the latter has at least seen a racecourse and proved his wellbeing.
I really couldn't discount anything in the race

horse9 - i watched Kempes last race a few times since and for a horse who they didn't think gets the 3M trip or ground that was not suitable.
I was very impressed with how he finished the race more than anything else and looks like he will improve again going over further on that evidence.
Wasnt best renewal in the world, but you can only beat whats in front of you.
With McCoy on board can see him starting single figures too.

Having read the article now, what Nicholls has said is fair enough - will have to Google soft palate cauterisation though.