No Denman Chase for Clan Des Obeaux as owner waits for 'the ultimate prize'

There are few races Paul Barber wants to win as much as Saturday's Grade 2 at Newbury named after the owner's greatest horse Denman, but the prestige of the Gold Cup is enough to trump even the strongest sentiment.

There is a suspicion the race last year – delayed a week and moved from Newbury to Ascot due to the equine flu outbreak – may have been a factor in his now dual King George winner Clan Des Obeaux finishing a disappointing fifth in the Magners Gold Cup four weeks later.

So, as much as it hurts Barber, the eight-year-old did not appear alongside the likes of Native River and Might Bite in Saturday's eight entries. His chance of landing the owner a third Gold Cup took priority.

"He's in great order and won't run until the Gold Cup," said the owner, who has twice won the season's most important race with See More Business in 1999 and in 2008 with Denman, the horse affectionately known as The Tank.

"It should be a good Gold Cup and I wouldn't mind winning another one. It's the ultimate prize, so we have to do everything we can to get him there in the best shape possible."

Paul Barber and Ged Mason admire their dual King George hero Clan Des ObeauxCredit: Edward Whitaker

Barber believes the going on the day could be key. "He's a great deal stronger," he added. "Whether he'll get the trip on softish ground I don't know, I think he'll get it on good ground and he's got a fair bit of toe.

"I'm convinced he will be a major contender, but you can't build yourself up too high because I've done it before and I've won a couple of Gold Cups, but I've lost a few more as well. We've been fairly lucky in the race, but you've got to be even luckier to win."

Clan Des Obeaux was beaten 11 lengths in last year's Gold Cup but Barber's argument that his charge has strengthened was supported by the 21-length demolition job he produced in the King George.

It was a career best but the famed cheese farmer and Paul Nicholls' landlord was similarly impressed by the first three home in Sunday's Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup – Delta Work, Kemboy and Presenting Percy.

"It [the Gold Cup] is going to be a tough old race," said Barber. "I thought they went a tremendous gallop for most of the race on Sunday and it was a very enjoyable race to watch. I'm looking forward to it and just hoping everything goes well, everyone turns up and it's a good Gold Cup."

Although Barber will not be represented in the Betfair-sponsored Denman Chase he will still take a keen interest. "It's interesting Might Bite's in there and Native River's won it twice before, so it should make a decent race with a few very good horses," he said.

On that Kempton romp Barber added: "He was brilliant at Kempton. I think it was a hell of a performance to win by 21 lengths and it was wonderful to watch, and my partner and myself were over the moon with the wonderful reception he got all the way round."

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