NEWS
Imperial Commander wins Cheltenham Gold Cup
Posted: Friday, March 19, 2010 5:01 PM
by Myra Lewyn
Imperial Commander entered the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday as a potential spoiler in the showdown between previous winners and stablemates Kauto Star and Denman and scored an authoritative victory over Denman after favorite Kauto Star fell.
Sent off the third wagering choice at 7-to-1 odds in steeplechasing’s blue riband, Imperial Commander outstayed 2008 winner Denman from the second to last jump, surging clear on the run to the final fence, and rolling to a seven-length triumph under Paddy Brennan.
Kauto Star, winner of the race in 2007 and ’09 and the 8-to-11 favorite to win for the third time, made a horrendous mistake at the eighth fence, nearly falling and never really recovering. Jockey Ruby Walsh began to get lower in the saddle a full circuit from the finish line, and Kauto Star already appeared beaten when he fell at the 18th of 22 fences. He immediately got to his feet, however, apparently unscathed, while stablemate and 4-to-1 second choice Denman chased Imperial Commander home.
Imperial Commander, a nine-year-old gelding by Flemensfirth out of Ballinlovane, by Le Moss, owned by Our Friends in the North, covered 3½ miles in 6.43.90 on turf rated as good.
"It's just absolutely brilliant,” trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said. “It's been very hard for us there with the third-favorite when all the talk was about Kauto and Denman, but we always knew we were going to win."
Imperial Commander, winner of the 2009 Ryanair Festival Trophy Steeplechase and ’08 Paddy Power Gold Cup Steeplechase, both at Cheltenham, was bred in Ireland by Laurence J. Flynn.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
