Imperial poser for Twiston-Davies

Imperial Commander is on course for a return trip to Cheltenham after posting an impressive display on his chasing debut at the course earlier in the month.

The imposing Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained six-year-old was highly tried over timber last season and made the perfect start to his fencing career when slamming Over The Creek by 16 lengths.

That success came over Prestbury Park’s extended two-and-a-half-mile trip, leaving Twiston-Davies debating whether to step Imperial Commander up in distance at the upcoming Paddy Power Gold Cup meeting.

He said: “Everything’s fine with Imperial Commander and hopefully he’ll be back there for the next meeting.

“There’s a novice chase there over the same trip he won last time and another over three miles so we’ll enter him in both.”

Imperial Commander is as short as 16-1 with Paddy Power and bet365 for the Royal And SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next March.