The Grade 2 Denman Chase is one of the last Gold Cup trials ahead of the Cheltenham Festival. In a boost for the race, it is set to host two likely runners in the Cheltenham blue riband.
Ahead of the race at Newbury on Saturday, Joe Napier previews the runners, odds and trends, as well as giving his verdict for the likely winner.
2026 Denman Chase Runners
Only four run in the Denman Chase on Saturday, but there is one significant name racing in Haiti Couleurs. Rebecca Curtis’ charge is a genuine Gold Cup hopeful after bouncing back from his Betfair Chase flop with a superb victory in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, adding to his Irish Grand National win last season.
He will face a stern enough test of his credentials in L’Homme Presse, however. Venetia Williams’ veteran ran a really good race in the Cotswold Chase behind Spillane’s Tower and may well come on for that effort, though does concede Haiti Couleurs 2lb.
Their two competitors will be looking to pick up some prize money. Leave Of Absence has ability for Anthony Honeyball, with his second at Ascot last time a good effort. He is not miles behind on ratings, nor is Riskintheground, though Dan Skelton’s runner is not in the best form.
2026 Denman Chase Racecard
14:10 Newbury
HeavyWilliam Hill Denman Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
- First Prize: £51255
- 2m 7f 91y
- Class 1
- 4 runners
- Win time: 6m 16s
5/6F (Won)
- Win: £1.84
2/1
4/1
40/1
+o+e Betting Returns
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £2.80 |
| Straight Forecast | £3.07 |
| Trifecta | £3.50 |
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Haiti CouleursDaily Mail:
L’Homme PresseRP RATINGS:
Haiti CouleursTOPSPEED:
Haiti CouleursPOSTDATA:
Haiti CouleursThe Times:
Haiti CouleursTelegraph:
Haiti CouleursThe Guardian:
Haiti CouleursD Express:
Haiti CouleursDaily Mirror:
Haiti CouleursThe Sun:
Haiti CouleursThe Star:
Haiti CouleursDaily Record:
Haiti CouleursDenman Chase Trends
We take a look at some of the key trends which may point us towards the winner of the 2026 Denman Chase below:
- Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch won the contest last year with Djelo
- Seven of the last nine winners have carried a penalty of some sort
- Five of the last eight favourites have won the race
- However, two of the other three winners in that time have started at 14/1 or bigger
- None of the last five winners had won on their previous start
Denman Chase Tips
On Official Ratings, L’Homme Presse is favoured to have a serious chance of an upset here, but having raced just 13 days ago, he should cede superiority to Haiti Couleurs. As long as there is no repeat of his poor jumping in the Betfair Chase, the nine-year-old should set up a strong Gold Cup bid with victory. Leave Of Absence is not far behind on ratings and the small field gives him a chance of featuring.
- Haiti Couleurs
- L’Homme Presse
- Leave Of Absence
FAQs
When and where will the Denman Chase be run?
The Denman Chase will take place at Newbury racecourse on Saturday 7 February, 2026 at 2.10pm.
How can I watch the Denman Chase on Saturday?
The Denman Chase will be shown live on ITV Racing at 2.10pm.
Who is Joe Napier?
Joe Napier is the deputy editor of GG who gives tips and opinion throughout the week. He has been writing for GG for over four years and is hugely passionate about racing.
When were the Denman Chase tips published?
The tips for the Denman Chase were published at 10.40am on Friday 6 February.
Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.