A Festival which produced a succession of unexpected results and at which plenty of the star names underperformed had one last trick up its sleeve in the eclipse of Kauto Star, the best chaser in more than forty years, whose bid for a third Gold Cup ended on the floor, but that failed to stop this being a race of rare quality, a tremendous duel between two top-notch horses resulting in one of the best-ever performances in this great race, the first two drawing a long way clear after three out. The early pace wasn’t so strong as anticipated but it had picked up by halfway and ensured this was a proper test of stamina, a test worthy of the Blue Riband of steeplechasing. “ IMPERIAL COMMANDER ’s narrow defeat by Kauto Star at Haydock suggested he’d made further progress since his Ryanair win last season and, back at a track where he has such a fine record (six wins now), he showed the extent of it, producing a performance even better than Kauto Star’s in winning this race last year.” IMPERIAL COMMANDER ’s narrow defeat by Kauto Star at Haydock suggested he’d made further progress since his Ryanair win last season and, back at a track where he has such a fine record (six wins now), he showed the extent of it, producing a performance even better than Kauto Star’s in winning this race last year, beating an even stronger Denman than that horse had for all he didn’t do it by quite so far, impressing with his jumping, always travelling well, clearly going better than the runner-up four out and getting on top once in the straight, ridden to extend his advantage after the last. He’s a year younger than both his chief rivals and, as such, ought to be regarded as favourite for next year’s renewal at this stage, and with the novices looking to have plenty to prove a second Gold Cup might well be his next March. The Bowl at Aintree was reportedly nominated as a possible target nearer to hand. DENMAN finished second in the Gold Cup for the second successive year, producing a better performance than when he’d landed the race in 2008 this time around, going with plenty of zest up with the pace but not quite so comfortable as the winner from four out and unable to match that one in the straight. He’ll reportedly have the Grand National as his principal target next season, but surely couldn’t be discounted if he makes a fourth appearance in this race, while a third Hennessy really would be something.
