Dean's tips for the Gold Cup

Imperial Commander – Fact File

The stable star of the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard and the reigning king of the steeplechasers following his thrilling totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph in March, Imperial Commander passed cheaply through the sale ring as a young horse.

A 4,000 euro Goffs December Sale yearling, the Flemensfirth gelding made 19,000 euros as a three-year-old when selling at Goffs in June, 2004. Imperial Commander was an emphatic eight-length winner on his only start in an Irish point-to-point at Summerhill in April, 2005.

He made his debut for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies at Cheltenham in October, 2006, when he posted a convincing eight-length victory in an extended two-mile bumper. He returned to Prestbury Park for The Open the following month but could only finish fourth to Massini’s Maguire in a novice hurdle and made a third consecutive appearance at the course the following month when taking sixth in a Grade Two novices’ hurdle at the International Meeting.

His first success over hurdles came in January, 2007 – a no-nonsense 19-length verdict in a novices’ contest at Newcastle. Imperial Commander ended that season with two good efforts in Grade One company, coming seventh in the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival and third in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April.

He made just three appearances in the 2007/08 campaign, all at Cheltenham, including an all-the-way success in a beginners’ chase at The Showcase at Cheltenham, and another front-running victory in a novice contest at The Open. He failed to complete a hat-trick of victories when trailing home last of four in another novice chase at The International, also at Cheltenham.

Growing pains forced Imperial Commander to miss the rest of the season but he returned to Cheltenham for his first start of the 2008/09 term, making his handicap debut in the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup. An official mark of 139 looked generous as Imperial Commander powered to a two and three quarter length victory over Barbers Shop with a further 11 lengths back to the third home Private Be.

Imperial Commander made no impact in the Grade One King George VI Chase at Kempton Park next time, coming home sixth behind Kauto Star, but proved himself to be a chaser of the highest order with a stunning two-length victory over Voy Por Ustedes in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, 2009. He then failed to cope with the soft to heavy ground in the Punchestown Gold Cup and was pulled up by Paddy Brennan before the final fence.

The 2009/10 season got under way with a stunning effort that saw Imperial Commander almost defeat the great Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on 21 November, as he went down by perhaps the shortest nose in history. For the second year running he failed to show his best at Kempton on Boxing Day as he finished a distant sixth to that old rival in the King George.

As he had done the previous season, Imperial Commander enjoyed a break before returning to the fray at The Festival on 19 March, when he quickened away from former champion Denman for an impressive seven-length victory in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (pictured). He unseated Paddy Brennan on his latest start in the Totesport Bowl at Aintree on 8 April.

Imperial Commander summered well in Northern Ireland and is back in full training with Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Race Record: Starts: 18; 1st: 8; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £572,038

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