Denman Chase

Denman Chase Overview

The Denman Steeplechase is a Grade 2 Steeplechase that is run usually each February. It attracts high-class chasers over a nearly three-mile trip. This a race where the emphasis is squarely on jumping ahead of a possible tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following month. The last horse to have won both races in the same season was Native River back in 2018.

The race is run at Newbury and there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race carries a valuable first prize of just under £50,000. The 2025 renewal was won by Djelo who landed some tidy bets when coasting home to a 8L success under Charlie Deutsch for trainer Venetia Williams.

Denman Chase Betting Trends and Statistics

• The leading trainer in the Betfair Denman Steeplechase in recent years is Paul Nicholls who has won the race seven times with those seven winners coming from Kauto Star (2007), Denman (2008), Tricky Trickster (2010), Noland (2011), Silviniaco Conti (2013), Clan Des Obeaux (2019) and Secret Investor (2021).
• Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the Denman Chase are Nicky Henderson (2) and Philip Hobbs (2).
• A trainer to avoid in this race is Nigel Twiston Davies. The handler has tried eight times to make the frame without success.
• Following the retirement of Aidan Coleman, there is no leading jockey in this particular race.
• A few jockeys who are still riding have won it in the past including Harry Cobden and Nico De Boinville. Bryony Frost and Jonjo O’Neill junior have won on what was their only previous ride in the race.
• Jockeys to avoid include Sam Twiston Davies and Daryl Jacob as the pair have tried and failed eleven times.
• The race usually takes in and around six minutes to run and six of the last ten favourites have obliged for their backers.

Denman Chase History

The Betfair Denman Steeplechase is a Grade 2 National Hunt race, which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about three miles and during its running, there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.

The event was originally named the Aon Chase, after its first sponsor Aon Group Ltd, and it was first run in 2000. It was promoted to listed status in 2002, and to Grade 2 level in 2003. The planned running in 2009 was abandoned at Newbury because of snow, and so the race was switched to an alternative venue, Kempton Park Racecourse.

The rearranged event was titled the Levy Board Chase. In 2012 the sponsorship was taken over by Betfair and renamed the Denman Chase in honour of Denman, who won the race in 2008 and also won two Hennessy Gold Cups at Newbury.

The race serves as one of the principal trials for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Four horses have won both events in the same year – Kauto Star (2007), Denman (2008), Coneygree (2015) and Native River (2018).

Denman Chase Winners