Imperial sprouts wings in Ryanair

A future challenge for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and maybe even a tilt at this year’s Grand National await Imperial Commander, a game winner of the Ryanair Chase on Thursday.

Nigel Twiston-Davies prepared his charge to lift the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the course at the start of the season and despite a rather tame sixth on his other outing in the King George, he was right on the money here.

Robert Thornton recovered from a battering on Wednesday to ride 4-5 favourite Voy Por Ustedes and was going well until a mistake at the top of the hill.

He was back in contention turning for home but Imperial Commander (8-1) jumped perfectly throughout and kept Voy Por Ustedes at bay up the hill.

“I was a bit worried because he hadn’t run for a long time and I thought they might catch him out,” said the trainer.

“He could definitely come back next year for the Gold Cup. I don’t think an extra half-mile will hurt.”

Asked about Aintree, Twiston-Davies added: “I’ll have to talk to the owners - he won’t get a weight like that again.”

Jockey Paddy Brennan added: “I opened my mouth after he won the Paddy Power when I said how good he was, and I’m just so glad he’s proved me right.”

Voy Por Ustedes was continuing a frustrating run of Cheltenham seconds and thirds for Alan King, who said: “I think the mistake hasn’t helped – it happened at the wrong time – but the fences are there to be jumped. We’ll freshen him up and go to Aintree.”

Schindlers Hunt was third, Tidal Bay left it all too late to take fourth but last year’s winner Our Vic was pulled-up.

There was more National talk after Character Building (16-1) was given an ultra-cool ride by Jamie Codd to pinch the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

Venetia Williams enjoyed a red-letter day herself with two winners including a one-two in the Freddie Williams Festival Plate.

Her Something Wells (33-1) and Will Biddick caught the loveable Ping Pong Sivola on the run-in.

Williams then pulled off another masterstroke to revive Kayf Aramis (16-1), who landed the Pertemps Final under a positive Aidan Coleman.

Paul Nicholls, on the mark in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, kept owner David Johnson happy too as Chapoturgeon (8-1) took the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase by nine lengths.

“When I bought him I said to David we might win an Arkle with him, but it was fairly obvious to me he wanted a bit further,” explained Nicholls.

“We’ve had this race in mind for a while.”

The luckless Paul Carberry was been taken to hospital for treatment on a punctured lung after falling from Jaamid.