The Grand National betting has been thrown into disarray after the Gold Cup winner Denman was, today, supplemented for Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National.

The horses connections have had to stump up £125,000 to enter the handicap and under the rules of the race the BHA handicapper Phil Smith has to disregard Denman’s Gold Cup win and allocate the weight he would have been given when the weights were originally published. This means he will have to carry 11st 7lbs, whereas today he would have been allocated 12st.

Bookmakers responded by installing Denman as the 4/1 favourite for the 4½ mile chase, with Cloudy Lane drifting to around the 9/1 mark.

Denman’s trainer Paul Nicholls said he has little doubt Denman will get the 4½ miles and he has come out of the Gold Cup very well.

Joint owner Harry Findlay was in an ebullient mood saying, “we told you before the Gold Cup our boy will win and I’m telling you he will be an easy winner on Saturday.”      

Denman is the first horse to be supplemented for the National since a rule change implemented two years ago. Any supplementary entries for this years race have to be received my midday on April 1st .