Imperial ruled out for season

IMPERIAL Commander has been ruled out for the season after suffering a tendon injury.

The 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was last seen pulling up in the Prestbury Park blue riband after suffering a broken blood vessel, but had been under going a pre-training regime at Mount Top Stud in Ireland.

The 10-year-old was due to return to trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies in the near future but now looks set for an extended holiday after a tear was found in a foreleg tendon following light exercise earlier this week.

Twiston-Davies said: “We haven’t seen him as he hasn’t been back to the yard. He’s been in pre-training in Northern Ireland and hadn’t returned.

“I’d imagine we won’t see him back until next year now, but I would hope he will return.

“I haven’t seen it myself but the injury sounds very slight and he should be fine for next season.”