Denman faces simple task in Cheltenham Gold Cup trial on Saturday

Denman, the second-favourite for next month's Gold Cup, was one of nine horses declared for the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday, but ­serious ­opposition to Paul Nicholls' chaser could evaporate by the weekend as trainers ­pursue other options. Two of the entries for Saturday's race, Oniz Tiptoes and Wee Robbie, are ­respectively 82lb and 62lb inferior to ­Denman on official ratings while Nacarat, who is within a stone of Denman, ­according to the handicapper, is in the unusual ­situation of only having been entered in case the meeting is cancelled. "We definitely won't run if the race is at Newbury," Tom George, Nacarat's trainer, said, "but I entered in case it is like last year, when the meeting was lost to the weather and then the race was re-staged at Kempton. If that happened again we could run him at Kempton [where Nacarat took the Racing Post Chase last year], but otherwise we will be going to the Racing Post again. With the weather forecast as it is, it was worth speculating." Air Force One, unraced since being pulled up in a Grade One event at ­Punchestown last April, is being ­considered for the Aon, but Charlie Mann will wait until later in the week before taking a final decision. "I want to get a race into him and I'd think that he'd run as long as the ground is OK," Mann said. "He's not run for a long time so he needs to start somewhere, and he's run well at ­Newbury before. He was second [to Madison Du ­Berlais] in the Hennessy there. "On his best form he might be ­second or third, but I can't see him beating ­Denman though. He might go to ­Cheltenham if all is well, but he's more likely to run in one of the Nationals. We'll just have to see what happens at the weekend." Niche Market, third behind Denman when getting nearly two stone in the ­Hennessy during November, is another ­"possible" runner, according to Robert Buckler, his trainer. "He's in a graduation chase at Exeter the same day," Buckler said. "I wouldn't think that we're going to beat Denman, but I want to give him a run somewhere without messing up his handicap mark for the National." Denman seems sure to start at long odds-on on Saturday as he attempts to extend his unbeaten record at Newbury to six races, and with the multiple champion jockey Tony McCoy in the saddle for the first time. "I'm going to speak to Paul [Nicholls] and see if he wants me to sit on him before Saturday," McCoy said ­at Market Rasen. "[Denman] is going to Newbury, and I'll look forward to [the Gold Cup at] Cheltenham after that. If any horse can beat Kauto Star, hopefully it will be him."