Imperial Commander back in form to take away the Betfair Gold Cup title after a year’s gap
An awaited competitor for the National Hunt season is the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained, Imperial Commander. The star chaser has been putting in serious work-outs which have made the connections even more positive about his chances of reclaiming the Gold Cup that he won back in 2010.
Initially, the connections wanted to check if the gelding was even up to taking on race track after the break that had continued ever since the 2011 edition of Gold Cup. The gelding was pulled out of the contest.
His very first exercise spin was at Chepstow race course with jockey, Aidan Coleman onboard, where he shared the track with the stable mate, Ransom Note, who became the mount for jockey, Sam Twiston-Davies.
"We are very happy," he said.
"He worked alongside Ransom Note, so you'd expect him to have a blow after that.”
"He's been off for 18 months, so it's case of getting him back in the habit.”
"He's done plenty of work and a lot of swimming and this was something different for him.”
There was yet another crucial test for the eleven-year-old bay gelding from which he came out successful with flying colours. The connections have been putting in all the efforts that they can for preparing the under charge for the Betfair Chase.
The eleven-year-old gelding raced under the regular jockey, Paddy Brennan, when working out at Towcester over two miles.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained gelding is set for the Haydock race on 24th November, and the connections have not revealed if they will race Flemensfirth’s bay gelding anywhere before the actual race day, neither have they made the rest certain if Imperial Commander will go out for more training trips.
"Imperial worked over two miles with an unraced four-year-old bumper horse (who is very highly regarded), finishing upsides and showing plenty of enthusiasm.”
"Overall, Imperial gave him a much better feel than in his final Warwick workout before the 2011 Gold Cup, and was moving as well as he has in the last three years.”
The runner-up of the 2011 Betfair Gold Cup, The Giant Bolster, has to be the one to look out for as he is all set and prepared for giving the rest a hard time.
Coming out after a year’s lay off and that too backed by some really lucrative work outs has enhanced the chances of the 2010 title winner to get it back.
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