Imperial Commander set for big-race double

Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander is set to bid for a Cheltenham double as next month’s Boylesports Gold Cup has emerged as a likely target.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has nominated the valuable chase, run over two miles and five furlongs, as a viable alternative to Newbury’s Hennessy Gold Cup.

“Imperial Commander has come out of the Paddy Power great and is fine,” said Twiston-Davies.

“He’s got the Hennessy, but if the handicapper doesn’t go too mad we’ll come back for the Boylesports Gold Cup.”

Jockey Paddy Brennan was thrilled with the performance but thanked weighing room colleague Tony Evans for his valued contribution.

“It was definitely one of the best days of my career, the Paddy Power has always been a race I’ve wanted to win and it was brilliant to do it for Nigel,” said Brennan.

“Tony Evans deserves an awful lot of credit though because he made the horse in his early days. People often forget the work that is done behind the scenes but obviously I was very pleased to get the ride.

“Tony is still recovering from a bad fall the other month, he’s coming along well now and I went to see him last night to thank him.

“He’s definitely the best chaser I have ridden and I’ve been lucky to ride a few good ones.

“He did it brilliantly, even though I was in front a lot sooner than I wanted - all I had to do was point him in the right direction.

“I don’t think the Hennessy would stretch him stamina-wise but I leave decisions like that to Nigel.

“Knowhere, who did it really well at Aintree last time, is our main aim for the Hennessy,” he told At The Races.