David Pipe has yet to make a final decision on where stable star Grands Crus will start off his season.

Imperial Commander remains on course to make his return from injury in the Betfair Chase at Haydock after delighting connections since returning to work last month.

Imperial Commander is set for an imminent return to training with Nigel Twiston-Davies ahead of a likely tilt at the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November.

Paul Nicholls today hailed Kauto Star as a horse “at the top of his game” as he nears his 12th birthday.

DAVID Pipe’s great grey hope Grands Crus gave every impression he could be as capable over fences as he was over hurdles with an almost flawless debut in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

Philip Hobbs has given his clearest indication yet that Wishfull Thinking will be allowed to take his chance in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

CHAMPION Hurdle hero Hurricane Fly remains on course to round off his season at the Punchestown Festival.

LONG RUN became the first six-year-old since mighty Mill House in 1963 to win the Gold Cup when producing a stunning display of raw power and limitless stamina at Cheltenham yesterday.

Long Run signalled the new dawn of steeplechasing by winning a thrilling renewal of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup to give Nicky Henderson his first success in the race.

IT’S unusual to have the three winners of the last four Gold Cups reassemble in the hope of keeping the title amongst themselves for a fifth successive year but the question is: how much do we really want one of them to regain or, in Imperial Commander’s instance, to retain the crown?

The Gold Cup is the most coveted prize in national hunt racing and being at Cheltenham on Gold Cup day is an unforgettable experience.

The old guard of Kauto Star, Denman and Imperial Commander feature among 14 declarations for this year’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Imperial Commander continues to please Nigel Twiston-Davies ahead of his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup defence on Friday.

Imperial Commander was reported to be much more like his old self as he continued the build-up to his defence of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup with a gallop before racing at Kempton.

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES’ two big Cheltenham Festival hopes, Imperial Commander and Khyber Kim, are to work before racing at Kempton on Saturday.

PADDY BRENNAN expects Imperial Commander to feel the benefit of his racecourse gallop as he continues the build-up to the defence of his totesport Gold Cup title at the Cheltenham festival next month.

Imperial Commander delighted connections in a racecourse gallop at Warwick as part of his preparation for his defence of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Jockey Brian Hughes is confident mercurial talent Tidal Bay can make his presence felt in next month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is planning to give Imperial Commander a racecourse gallop at Newbury ahead of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in six weeks’ time.

THE three days at Leopardstown this week almost renewed one’s faith in this great game of ours.

Imperial Commander will have to miss his clash with four-time winner Kauto Star in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

NOEL FEHILY has not given up hope of being fit to ride Kauto Star in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

A decision is set to be made on Monday on whether Imperial Commander will clash with Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

NOEL FEHILY will get the leg-up on Kauto Star in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

Imperial Commander is recovering well from the minor injury he suffered at Haydock on Saturday.

IT is a case of two down and one to go after Imperial Commander put up a solid display to land the Betfair Chase at Haydock on his seasonal bow on Saturday.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has sent a warning shot to Imperial Commander’s Betfair Chase rivals that he feels his star performer could be better than ever this season.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander will face six rivals as he bids to make a winning reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Gold Cup-winning trio Kauto Star, Denman and Imperial Commander feature among a fascinating list of 19 entries for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 20.

BIG FELLA THANKS should be in top form for his seasonal bow in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury next month, according to trainer Ferdy Murphy.

Paul Nicholls claims Denman has given Ruby Walsh “the best feel for three years” ahead of his racecourse return in November.

THE Aintree Grand National reminds me of JFK or Elvis. People remember where they were when they heard that the American president had been shot dead in Dallas in 1963. It’s the same with the news that The King had passed away 14 years later.

HOURS after the Champions League slipped from his grasp, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was back winning on the big stage as his What A Friend claimed the totesport Bowl at Aintree.

Baby Run completed a famous double for Gold Cup-winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies by landing the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham.

Imperial Commander stayed on strongly up the hill for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and jockey Paddy Brennan to land the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Imperial Commander could bid to get his Gold Cup dream back on track in the Letheby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham later this month.

Kauto Star will face a maximum of 13 rivals as he bids to record a remarkable fourth consecutive victory in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

KAUTO STAR and Imperial Commander have been awarded a joint-performance figure of 174 following their thrilling battle in last Saturday’s Betfair Chase.

FOR many people it is the romance of racing that is the attraction; of being part of – or merely witnessing – fabled stories which are ultimately woven into the very fabric of the sport and become legend.

Notre Pere demonstrated his admirable stamina - not to mention a real touch of class - in powering to victory in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup today.

The feature race of this year's Punchestown Festival takes place at the Co Kildare racecourse this afternoon.

Mouse Morris fears War Of Attrition will find it tough going in the expected testing conditions for the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup tomorrow.

PADDY BRENNAN gave Imperial Commander a magnificent drive to land the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.