Imperial Commander's Gold Cup
Local hero Imperial Commander IRE, enroute to the Winner's Circle
as winner of the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup under jockey P J
Brennan, is surrounded by ecstatic supporters. Getty Images
"The best day of my life. That Denman never goes away." said Imperial Commander's jockey Paddy Brennan as he entered the Winners' Circle after they won the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup (Grade 1) for IC's sixth win on Cheltenham's courses.
It was also a best day for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies of Naunton, Gloucester, who won his first Gold Cup and a purse of £270,797.50 for a horse who does not like to race right handed.
Imperial Commander and his connections were not only feted at Cheltenham's showpiece event, but were royally greeted at their local: The Hollow Bottom.
The way IC charged round the 3m 2 1/2f New Course he looked as if he had no bottom either (of talent).
The 8.1 third favourite was almost ignored in the lead up to the Meet as punters and media alike could only see either Paul Nicholls' two Gold Cup winners Kauto Star FR (Village Star FR) or Denman IRE (Presenting) as victorious.
Former champion jump jockey and mystery writer Johnny Francome presented a pre-race feature on Imperial Commander in which he rode him out on the gallops.
He was impressed with the horse's balance, muscle tone, springiness, and described IC's various abilities as half way between Kauto Star and Denman's--a compliment indeed.
Contrasted to Imperial Commander's fitness, I was shocked to see an almost-skeletal and fragile-looking Kauto Star.
It was no wonder he made mistakes and fell under an overly-confident Ruby Walsh.
KS was not fit enough to win his third consecutive Gold Cup.
Denman did not look 100% either, but easily came in second in the race with last year's Grand National champion Mon Mome FR (Passing Sale FR) 27 lengths behind him in third.
Both Imperial Commander and Denman kept pace with the leader. Denman took over and Imperial Commander went after him to win by seven lengths.
Denman fought hard under A P McCoy to catch him, but lost to IC by seven lengths. IC too good for them all on the day.
From March 19th onwards, no one need ever explain Imperial Commander by comparing him to another horse.
He is his own horse now, progressive at nine, and is 4.1 to retain his title next year.
UPDATE: Paul Nicholls admitted that Kauto Star was so warm and distressed after the Gold Cup (see my comments above) that Nicholls spent the night by KC's stall. He improved Saturday, but will not race again this season which ends with the Grand National April 10.
Denman came out of the Gold Cup thinking he had won and is well enough to participate in a race at Aintree April 10.
Big Buck's will go steeplechasing next season.
Imperial Commander is in fine form after his victory, accoding to Nicky Henderson.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 3/21/2010 8:30 PM 
Categories: Cheltenham Festival 2010
Tags: A P McCoy Racing International Nigel Twisten-Davies Cheltenham Gold Cup Grand National Cheltenham Racecourse Kauto Star Ruby Walsh Cheltenham Festival Imperial Commander Denman Mon Mome P J Brennan
Categories: Cheltenham Festival 2010
Tags: A P McCoy Racing International Nigel Twisten-Davies Cheltenham Gold Cup Grand National Cheltenham Racecourse Kauto Star Ruby Walsh Cheltenham Festival Imperial Commander Denman Mon Mome P J Brennan
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