WHILE most punters were concerned with the Gold Cup at Ayr, Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman became centre of attention with the news he is suffering from an irregular heartbeat.

Ditcheat trainer Paul Nicholls had publicly stated that he was slightly concerned at the condition of the eight-year-old since his return to light training.

He will not now make his first appointed target of the new season, the Hennessey Gold Cup, but Nicholls is convinced he will have him back as good as new.

"He wasn't himself when he came in and then lost a lot of weight quite quickly which wasn't him at all," said Nicholls.

"He got very tired, very quickly schooling so there was obviously something that was not quite right.

"We had experienced this with a horse called Eurotrek and once it was confirmed, we were pleased to know and we can get on with sorting it out.

"Basically, I'm not a vet, but the electrics of the heart aren't working properly so it's not beating right.

"It's just a matter of putting that back right and getting him back into a normal rhythm.

"He's going to Newmarket on Monday and he'll be there for a few days where he'll see a specialist in this field and they'll decide what treatment to give him.

"The Hennessey is going to be out I would have thought, he's nowhere near as fit as I would like him and he's going to lose a fortnight now and there's no point rushing him.

"I'd rather take my time and have him ready to run at Christmas time.

"I don't think the fact he was so fat has caused it, it could have happened in the Gold Cup for all we know.

"From day one I have been concerned, I thought it was because he was heavy and he was just taking his time but he obviously hasn't been right and now we've sorted it out I hope it can be put right and we carry on as normal."

Totesport reacted to the news by pushing Denman out to 11-8 for the Gold Cup while Kauto Star is now 100-30 from 9-2.

Fellow Nicholls inmate and last season's third Neptune Collonges is 13-2 from 8-1.

"It will have come as a shock to ante-post punters but it's so early in the season that there's no substantial liabilities on Denman for the Gold Cup at this stage," said spokesman Damian Walker.

"As sponsors of the Gold Cup, we were thrilled with last season's race and the performance of Denman and we hope everything can be be done to make sure he is there to defend his title in March."