Commanding triumph as Nicholls’ stars are seen off (From York Press)

Commanding triumph as Nicholls’ stars are seen off

9:50am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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IMPERIAL COMMANDER ushered in a new era with a brilliant victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

It had been billed as the third and decisive match-up between Paul Nicholls’ superstars Kauto Star and Denman, who had won the last three Gold Cups between them, but the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained nine-year-old gatecrashed the party.

Kauto Star (8-11 fav) was bidding to join the likes of Best Mate in winning three Golds but, with Ruby Walsh in the saddle, made a shuddering mistake at the eighth fence and was being niggled along before crashing out four flights from home.

Denman (4-1) travelled more smoothly at the head of the field and champion jockey Tony McCoy looked to wind it up coming round the final bend. But Imperial Commander (7-1) looked strong throughout the three-and-a-quarter-mile blue riband event and, after moving clear up to the final flight, Paddy Brennan kicked on to a seven-length victory. Grand National winner Mon Mome (50-1) was third.

Twiston-Davies said: “It's everybody’s ambition to win the Gold Cup. I have been lucky enough to win two Nationals, I needed a Gold Cup. My CV is nearly full.”

Brennan said: “It’s by far the best day of my life. It was a dream the whole way.”

Cerium, fifth in last year’s Grand National, and Mr Pointment, both trained by Leyburn’s Paul Murphy, were eighth and tenth respectively.

Amicelli, saddled by Scackle-ton’s Cherry Coward, was never in contention in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase, as Twiston-Davies notched a double with 9-2 joint-favourite Baby Run.

In the opening Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle, Soldatino (6-1) broke the heart of long-time leader Barizan (14-1), while Blue Nymph, of John Quinn’s Norton stable and ridden by Dougie Costello, finished 13th of 14 finishers, at 50-1.