In a race billed as a heavyweight showdown and an ultimate decider between Paul Nicholls’ stablemates, it was local hero Imperial Commander who prevailed for Nigel Twiston-Davies in a race of towering high drama.

Kauto Star, the 8-11 favourite and winner of the Gold Cup in 2007 and 2009, was unlucky not to deposit Ruby Walsh with an uncharacteristic error at the eighth fence and he was never travelling thereafter.

Walsh was niggling away at the four-time King George VI Chase winner passing the stands and the pair then came to grief four fences from home with an earth-shattering fall.

Thankfully both horse and jockey were quickly on their feet as Imperial Commander squared up to 2008 winner Denman at the head of affairs.

Denman left his abject failure at Newbury last month well behind under Tony McCoy but the bruising combination were fighting for second place as Imperial Commander and Paddy Brennan went on at the second-last.

Any stamina doubts from onlookers were readily brushed aside as the 7-1 chance thundered up the hill for a sixth course success with his seven-length victory.

Although he has won the Grand National twice, Twiston-Davies craves the quiet life and admitted afterwards that “I am low player and like to be the small man”.

But the small man had already nearly upset the colossus of Kauto Star once this season as back in November Imperial Commander ran him to a nose at Haydock.

“You can never be confident of beating Kauto Star as he wins so well every year but both horses were only half-fit at Haydock and he proved himself that day that we are that class,” said Twiston-Davies.

“He is bred to stay and that is all he has ever done. He has always powered up the hill like it was flat and in another 10 yards at Haydock he would have beaten Kauto Star by miles.

“There was not a man in the world who didn’t think we had won that day.

“I am slowly filling my CV and only the Champion Hurdle is missing after Khyber Kim finished second on Tuesday.

“I wanted to win the Grand National more than anything and have two now so they are getting boring!

“We don’t like shouting our mouths off, but I couldn’t understand it as Denman had let his supporters down last time and Kauto cannot do it every year.

“Cooldine had 14lb to find and I couldn’t see how he could do it.

“I was the forgotten man and I hope you forget me again after today.”

Forgetting the jovial Naunton handler would seem unlikely with Imperial Commander due to now take in Betfair Bowl at Aintree in three weeks’ time.

Twiston-Davies added: “I would like to run him at Liverpool. I don’t imagine Denman or Kauto will run so it should be a penalty kick.”

Brennan breezed past the winning post with his finger pressed firmly to his lips, and explaining the expression, he said: “All we have heard of the last three months is Kauto Star and Denman. It is good for racing but it was never a two-horse race.

“It’s by far the best day of my life. I’m speechless. It was a dream the whole way.

“I saw Kauto’s mistake out of the corner of my eye. Paul Townend (on Cooldine) was next to me and he said Kauto was still there.

“I thought Kauto had to make just one mistake. There was a lot of rubbish talked about Kauto being half-fit at Haydock but we needed the race too.

“I had never had a feeling like it at Haydock with the speed he showed up the straight.

“Kauto is not a young horse and Imperial Commander is improving – he is a serious horse.

“I wanted to get the rail today and once I did I thought he was going pull up for two strides going into the final fence.

“But he sprinted away from the last and he will get four miles.

“The horse on the day was exceptional and I just played a small part.

“This is a serious horse and he will be around a long time.”

Twiston-Davies and Brennan have forged a successful partnership since the rider moved from Howard Johnson’s stable in 2007.

“I am not the easiest person to work with on a day-to-day basis. If I am not winning I am not happy,” Brennan explained.

“Nigel makes me happy every day. He makes me feel that I am the best and you cannot buy that.

“He is not only a boss but a friend and he will be hard to replace.

“I am very proud to sit here and be part of the Nigel Twiston-Davies team.”

Kauto Star Gold Cup Favourite

Only Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Mill House and Best Mate have ever won the blue riband event three times, and all did it in consecutive seasons.

Kauto Star has already created his own unique piece of history by becoming the first horse to reclaim the prize 12 months ago, and another win for Ruby Walsh’s mount would add yet more lustre to his legacy. Having been kept fresh since winning a fourth King George VI Chase in spectacular fashion, champion trainer Nicholls is feeling bullish again.

“It is impossible to say he is better than ever as it was such a wonderful performance at Kempton,” said Nicholls.

“He worked with Master Minded last weekend and there are very few who can do what he did with a champion chaser.

“When he is fit he is lethal and there is nothing I can say to put anyone off him.”

According to the bookmakers, Kauto Star has most to fear from stablemate and 2008 winner Denman, who finished second 12 months ago after an interrupted preparation.

Yet again Denman’s last appearance before Cheltenham did not go to plan as he left his new jockey, Tony McCoy, on the floor in the Aon Chase which was won by another stablemate, Tricky Trickster.

McCoy is back in the saddle and the racing world is itching to see the two best horses and the two best jockeys competing in the highlight of the season.

“Denman did a very good piece of work with Tricky Trickster at the weekend. The more you do and the more you drill him the better he gets,” added Nicholls.

“You have to remember that before he ran in the Aon he gave 22lb to What A Friend and he went on to win the Lexus.

“He did have a little setback, but he is over that and do not write him off.

“The danger with Denman is that you go off too quick on him and get to the bottom of him too soon.

“He loves a battle and if he had got into a scrap with Niche Market at Newbury he would have loved it.”

One of the few viable alternatives to the big two is last year’s Ryanair winner, Imperial Commander.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ nine-year-old only went down by a nose to Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, and returns to a course where he has won four times over fences after disappointing in Kempton’s King George VI Chase.

“He’s in really good nick and I’m very happy with him. He got within a whisker of beating Kauto Star at Haydock. I couldn’t be happier and I’m really looking forward to it,” the Naunton handler said.

“He certainly will have improved from Haydock. That was his first run of the season and he’s a big burly horse. He’s an awful lot fitter now and he’s really lean and mean and keen.

“The trip is not a problem, he stays forever.

“We’ll be riding our own race but we certainly will be up there with them. Three out at Haydock he had Kauto beat but he made a mistake there that turned the whole thing into a battle.

“He has a high cruising speed and can quicken off that. I don’t think we’re worried about tactics at all.

“He’s won four out of five over fences at Cheltenham. He was very wrong the only time he was beaten there. He damaged a hock and didn’t run for nearly a year.

“Otherwise without that he’d have been unbeaten there.”

Willie Mullins is pinning his hopes on Cooldine improving as much as he did last year.

His novice campaign was highlighted with an authoritative victory in the RSA Chase and he ran a sound trial in the Irish Hennessy on his latest start.

“He seems in good form on the gallops here during the week,” said Mullins.

“Last year he improved hand over fist from race to race and I’m sure he’s improved again since Leopardstown.

“I hope we can get into the money and it is all to play for after that. The race looks like a head-to-head and my fellow needs a good bit of improvement to get between the two of them but that is what we are here to find out.

“He will handle the ground and the trip will bring out his stamina.

“He put in a fantastic round of jumping last year and if he can do the same again this time it will put him right in the race.

The big one. Kauto Star v Denman. The 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Of course Kauto Star will win a third Gold Cup if he prevails here, but we saw Master Minded fail and now all eyes are on Kauto Star.

I think regular readers of the website will know by now that this is a big one and that I am 100 per cent behind Kauto Star. There is no doubt that Kauto Star has the tallent and the class to win. So does Denman. Is he value, NO!

But it is about more than value. The win at Kempton in the King George was simply sensational. Any horse that can do that gets my vote. The weather has held off and I think that the ground will be perfect of Kauto Star. That for me was the only doubt. I think Denman will be second and I think Tricky Trickster will be third. Cooldine is the only one I see possibly breaking the Nicholls hold on the race.

Kauto Star looks for a third Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Kauto Star the best bet of the day to win a third Cheltenham Gold Cup!

What Charlie McCann Thinks…..

This is a tough race to solve, usually. Weapons Amnesty proved in 2010 that his win in the race is 2009 is of a very high standard. Some very good horses have featured in this is recent times, the likes of Denman, Best Mate and Kicking King who went on to frank this as an important race.

The ability to travel, jump and finish well are key attributes if you are to win this race. So who will win the 2010 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle?

Enterprise Park is likely to go off the shortest of the irish horses and I think thatcould go well for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh. I also like the look of Restless Harry but the one that carries my money is Tell Massini. I think this is a proper horse, a really good one for the future. Tell Massini justified his cramped odds when bringing up his third straight victory under rules with an impressive victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, in December having previously won the Grade 2 Hyde Novices’ Hurdle at the same venue. he likes the course and has an oficial rating of 153, a very high class horse indeed.

I think with a break and natural progression Tell Massini can give Tom George a winner at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival.

I am looking at this race initially before I see the declarations and if Qaspal runs he wins, I think it is as simple as that! He bolted up in the Imperial Cup and will win at £75k bonus if he were to complete the double.

McCoy is in great form at Cheltenham and despite the competitive nature of the County Hurdle ,Qaspal could make a mockery of the jandicap and win in the famous McManus colours.

Qaspal and McCoy

Last year Zaynar won the Triumph Hurdle and finished third in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday. Is there anything of the quality of Zaynar here, well maybe.

Certainly there have been a few performances of note this season and I think that Super Kenny who won on Monday would have had a good chance had he gone for the Triumph Hurdle.

The Irish are flying at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, they have a great chance with Carlito Brigante but I think this will be one that stays at home with it being fought out between Henderson and Nicholls.I was very taken with both Advisor and particularly Soldatino. Nicky Henderson is the best trainer of hurdlers in my view and I think yet another French import, Soldatino can win the Triumph Hurdle.

After his last win Nicky Henderson was quoted as saying;

“He’s only been with me for five weeks and I haven’t really galloped him. We were going on what we were told which was that he could be a bit wild so we decided to leave in the earplugs which were used on him in France.

If he comes on for that he will win and win well. Soldatino is my Triumph Hurdle bet and one I am heavily on.

Good Luck!

Can you really look past Big Bucks ? trained by you guessed it, Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh! In short NO.

Big Bucks lands World Hurdle in 2009

I have to be honest and say that long analysis for this race are not required. Everything points to him winning. His official mark of 174 is a mile ahead of his nearest rival and I think he can only beat himself by falling. Big Bucks is short but will win easily, maybe hard on the steel.

I will call it a day there and get ready for the Gold Cup on Friday!

The At The Races team preview the World Hurdle…

This is one of the best races in my book of the festival. It is usually won by a decent horse. Imperial Commander won it last year and he now takes on Kauto Star and Denman in the Gold Cup. Poquelin has been the antepost favourite for a while trained by, surprisingly Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh.

Poquelin for Ryanair Chase

So is it another trip on the Paul Nicholls band wagon? Well until the Ascot Chase I was a big fan of Planet of Sound but he fell with my money on! He fell early so didn’t really get a run but I do think given a clear round he could be in the mix come the business end of the race. I think there may be some value in his price and Planet of Sound has each-way appeal here. Perhaps ‘yer man Nicholls’ can’t win everything and Philip Hobbs can land this prize.

All of the last five Ryanair Chase winners had previously won at Cheltenham. Planet of Sound hasn’t and Poquelin has in fact he has won at Cheltenham three times and has ran there in last three outings with two wins and a second to his name. So the stats stack up for Poquelin. he has looked mightily impressive and I have to side again with ‘yer man Nicholls’ and take my seat on the band wagon.

Always a difficult race to find the winner of although we managed it last year with Kayf Aramis who won for Venitia Williams and is back again but for a new trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies. Paddy Brennan has opted for this one over stablemate Ballyfitz. Only 2 favourites have won in the last 11 years.

Alfie Sherrin is the most likely favourite for the top team of Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh. I was talking to some Irish racegoers in the hotel on Tuesday who said that ‘yer man Nicholls’ can’t win everything but you wouldn’t be so sure when you look at the team he has assembled here! I really don’t want a joyride on the Nicholls band wagon but it seems that is the only one heading to the winners circle!

Top Trainer Paul Nicholls

It was another Paul Nicholls winner last season with Timmy Murphy steering home Chapturgeon to win off a mark of 10st 11. Nicholls saddles the top weight here in Take The Breeze who looks to have an excellent chance with Harry Skelton taking the ride. The winner of this race has been a 7 year old in four of the last five runnings and all of the last five winners were in the top two last time out.

This is a very competitive race and I am going to go against the trend somewhat here with a modest bet on the Paul Nicholls trained Rivaliste with Ruby Walsh in the plate. Last time out at Sandown the five year-old did nothing wrong when second to Doctor Pat, going down by a nose. Rivaliste carries some rather famous colours, those of Best Mate so it would be a nice winner, but lets face it any winner we have backed will be nice. a modest bet here folks on Rivaliste.