Gold Cup duo bow to the Commander (From The Northern Echo)

Gold Cup duo bow to the Commander

9:44am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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IMPERIAL COMMANDER signalled a changing of the guard among the dynasty of staying chasers as he eclipsed both Kauto Star and Denman in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In a race billed as a heavyweight showdown and an ultimate decider between Paul Nicholls’ stablemates, it was local hero Imperial Commander who prevailed for Nigel Twiston-Davies in a race of towering drama.

Kauto Star, the 8-11 favourite and winner of the Gold Cup in 2007 and 2009, was lucky not to deposit Ruby Walsh with an uncharacteristic error at the eighth fence and he was never travelling thereafter.

Walsh was niggling away at the four-time King George VI Chase winner passing the stands and the pair then came to grief four fences from home with an earth-shattering fall.

Thankfully both horse and jockey were quickly on their feet as Imperial Commander squared up to 2008 winner Denman at the head of affairs.

Denman left his abject failure at Newbury last month well behind under Tony McCoy but the bruising combination were fighting for second place as Imperial Commander and Paddy Brennan went on at the second-last.

Any stamina doubts were readily brushed aside as the 7- 1 chance thundered up the hill for a sixth course success with his seven-length victory.

Although he has won the Grand National twice, Twiston-Davies craves the quiet life.

But he had already nearly upset Kauto Star once this season as back in November Imperial Commander ran him to a nose at Haydock.

‘‘You can never be confident of beating Kauto Star as he wins so well every year but both horses were only half-fit at Haydock and he proved his class that day,’’ said Twiston- Davies.

‘‘He is bred to stay and that is all he has ever done. He has always powered up the hill like it was flat and in another ten yards at Haydock he would have beaten Kauto Star by miles.

‘‘There was not a man in the world who didn’t think we had won that day.

“I am slowly filling my CV and only the Champion Hurdle is missing.

‘‘We don’t like shouting our mouths off, but I couldn’t understand the pre-race talk as Denman had let his supporters down last time and Kauto cannot do it every year.

‘‘Cooldine had 14lb to find and I couldn’t see how he could do it.

‘‘I was the forgotten man and I hope you forget me again after today.’’