Commander Brennan targets Imperial rule

PADDY BRENNAN is feeling confident ahead of Imperial Commander’s first run of the season in Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained nine-year-old ended the domination of Paul Nicholls in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last term and will be going all out to retain his crown in March.

That performance was no flash in the pan, however, as he was denied by the narrowest of margins in Haydock’s biggest race 12 months ago by the great Kauto Star.