2026 Denman Chase Trends

Staged at Newbury racecourse the Betfair-sponsored Denman Chase is a Grade Two race that is run in February each year.

First run in 2000, the Denman Chase is always a hotly-contested race that is run over a trip of 3 miles, and over the years has provided plenty of clues ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Four horses have won this race before going onto land the Cheltenham Gold Cup that same season – Kauto Star (2007), Denman (2008), Coneygree (2015) & Native River (2018).

In 2017 – Native River won the Denman Chase before running third in the Gold Cup, but in 2018 he went one better after landing both the Denman Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The race was upgraded to Listed status in 2002 and then promoted further in 2003 to a Grade Two – which it remains at today.

The contest was originally sponsored by the Aon Group, but in 2012 leading betting exchange – Betfair – took over the sponsorship mantle, and in the process also renamed the race the ‘Denman Chase’ in honour of the 2008 winner. With William Hill taking over the sponsorship duties in 2025.

Since 2000 leading National Hunt trainer – Paul Nicholls – has won the race 10 times - including again in 2021 when his Secret Investor won for jockey Bryony Frost.

Here at GeeGeez, we look back at recent winners of the race and highlight the key stats ahead of the 2026 renewal – this year staged on Saturday 7th February.

Recent Denman Chase Winners

2025 - Djelo (6/4 fav)
2024 - Shishkin (8/11 fav)
2023 – Zanza (16/1)
2022 – Eldorado Allen (6/1)
2021 - Secret Investor (14/1)
2020 – Native River (2/5 fav)
2019 – Clan Des Obeaux (2/5 fav)
2018 – Native River (8/11)
2017 – Native River (11/10)
2016 - Houblon des Obeaux (3/1)
2015 – Coneygree (15/8 fav)
2014 – Harry Topper (7/2)
2013 – Silviniaco Conti (8/11 fav)
2012 – Long Run (4/7 fav)
2011 – Noland (13/2)
2010 – Tricky Trickster (8/1)
2009 – Madison du Berlais (12/1)
2008 – Denman (1/4 fav)
2007 – Kauto Star (2/9 fav)

Denman Chase Trends

18/22 – Rated 150+
18/22 – Aged 9 or younger
17/22 – Had won over at least 3m (fences) before
17/22 – Had won at least 4 times over fences (UK) before
17/22 – Placed favourites
17/22 – Ran within the last 6 weeks
16/22 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
14/22 – Aged 8 or younger
13/22 – Had won over fences at Newbury before
12/22 – Raced at either Cheltenham or Kempton last time out
11/22 – Winners that went onto race in that season’s Gold Cup (4 winners)
10/22 – Winning favourites
9/22 – Irish bred
8/22 – Won last time out
8/22 – Trained by Paul Nicholls (10 wins in total)
8/22 – French bred
6/22 – Winning distance – ¾ length or less
5/22 – Returned a double-figure price
4/22 – Winners that went onto win the Gold Cup (Coneygree, Denman, Kauto Star & Native River)
4/22 – Trained by the Tizzard yard
2/22 – Won by the Pipe stable
2/22 – Won by trainer Nicky Henderson (3 in total)
8 of the last 19 winners were aged 7 years-old
Just one winner aged 11+ since 2000
Venetia Williams has won 2 of the last 10
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 9/2

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