No track fears for Imperial Commander
The nine-year-old was a brilliant winner of the blue riband event at last month’s Festival, his sixth course victory from a total of seven wins under Rules.
Some would argue he is less effective at other tracks but Twiston-Davies points to this season’s Betfair Chase at Haydock, where he was beaten just a nose by Kauto Star, as evidence to the contrary.
Joining Imperial Commander on the opening day of the Grand National meeting will be stablemates and fellow Festival winners Pigeon Island, who lines up in the Red Rum Handicap Chase, and Baby Run, who tackles the giant fences in the Fox Hunters’ Chase.
“We’re very much looking forward to it. We finished one Festival off with three winners on the final day and they all run on the first day of the next Festival, so it will be interesting,” said Twiston-Davies.
“Imperial Commander is in very good form. The owners did take a bit of persuading to let him run again but we’re ready to go and we’ll see what happens.
“People will say he does most of his winning at Cheltenham but that doesn’t worry me at all.
“There wasn’t much wrong with his run at Haydock earlier in the season and Haydock is quite similar to Aintree in many ways.
“The only reason he’s done most of his winning at Cheltenham is because that’s where he runs most, and it’s not a bad place to be winning.”
Paul Nicholls, responsible for Cheltenham runner-up Denman and eventual faller and favourite Kauto Star, relies upon What A Friend on Merseyside.
The gelding, part-owned by Alex Ferguson, has only been seen twice this term.
He finished a fine second to Denman in the Hennessy before getting up close home to taste a first Grade One success in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
“We have purposefully kept him nice and fresh by missing Cheltenham and the drying conditions will really help,” said Nicholls.
“Imperial Commander is the champion now, the Gold Cup holder and a horse who is going to be very hard to beat.
“What we have got on our side is being fresh, as the other horses have had harder seasons.”
Meanwhile, Nicholls shares in the general disappointment of Time For Rupert’s defection from the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle.
Nicholls saddles Big Buck’s, last year’s winner and now dual Ladbrokes World Hurdle title-holder, whose biggest challenge in the Grade One event was to come from Paul Webber’s gelding.
Time For Rupert gave Big Buck’s a serious scare jumping the last flight at Cheltenham last month, only lacking the winner’s pace on the run-in to finish three and a quarter lengths adrift in second.
But Webber had to pull him out after he produced a dirty scope.
“It’s a shame Time For Rupert is not there,” said Nicholls. “He’s a great horse who ran really well against Big Buck’s at Cheltenham.”
“I suppose it’s good news for us as it makes things easier. I’ve been really happy with the horse, he won the race last year, the track and the ground will suit so everything is in his favour.”
