Cheltenham Gold Cup: Imperial Commander, ridden by Paddy Brennan, was the surprise winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup after holding-off the challenges of Denman coming down the stretch. Odds-on favourite Kauto Star never travelled well after an early mistake before coming to grief four from home.
Commander stayed-on strongly up the hill for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and jockey Brennan after travelling powerfully all the way. When Kauto Star fell, only 2008 Gold Cup winner Denman could stay with the eventual winner on the turn for home.
Imperial Commander (7-1) was easily going the best of the two, however, and after moving clear on the run to the last, he pulled away on the run-in to win with seven lengths to spare.
In a dramatic race, reigning champion Kauto Star — chasing a hat-trick of Gold Cup successes — made a horrendous mistake at the eighth fence and never really recovered.
Walsh began to get lower in the saddle a full circuit from home and looked beaten when falling at the fourth-last. Thankfully, he was straight up on his feet and was given the all-clear by the vets.
Fellow Paul Nicholls’ inmate Denman travelled with zest towards the head of affairs under Tony McCoy, but Imperial Commander was cantering all over him turning for home.
Denman refused to go down without a fight, but Imperial Commander began to stamp his authority on the run to the last and passed the post with plenty in hand.
Denman filled the runner-up spot for the second year in succession, while last year’s Grand National winner Mon Mome (50-1) finished strongly to finish third.
“It’s by far the best day of my life. I’m speechless. It was a dream the whole way,” Brennan said afterwards.
“I’ve just got to take time to thank my boss (Twiston-Davies). He’s the best boss ever - he’s produced two horses this week (Imperial Commander and Champion Hurdle runner-up Khyber Kim) and I just had had to steer them.”
McCoy had no complaints afterwards, explaining he was beaten by the better horse on the day.
“When we came down the hill he (Imperial Commander) was going a bit better than me. I hoped he might stop but that’s not the way it turned out.”
Mon Mome’s jockey Aidan Coleman said: “Roll on Aintree. As you expect from a Grand National winner he got outpaced at one stage, but he stayed on great and he has run a super race.”
Walsh said of Kauto Star: “You cannot afford to make mistakes like that in Grade One company. The winner made a mistake in the King George and that was him done. I made a mistake and we were down. That’s the way it goes in racing.
“His first one was a bad mistake. It knocked me out of position and I could not get him on an even keel. You can’t make a mistake like that against horses of the calibre of Imperial Commander, Denman and Cooldine.
“You are always struggling and I was fighting a lost cause. It was a bad fall but he got up and there’s not a bother on him. He cantered back down fresh as a daisy, not a bother on him.”
Cheltenham Results: Day four
1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle
1 Soldatino (B J Geraghty) 6-1
2 Barizan (T J O'Brien) 14-1
3 Alaivan (A J McNamara) 9-2
17 ran
Also: 7-2 Fav Carlito Brigante 4th
2.05 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
1 Thousand Stars (Ms K Walsh) 20-1
2 Arcalis (Denis O'Regan) 33-1
3 Dee Ee Williams (L Treadwell) 20-1
4 Zanir (P J Brennan) 50-1
28 ran
Also: 7-1 Fav Tito Bustillo
2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
1 Berties Dream (A E Lynch) 33-1
2 Najaf (T J Murphy) 25-1
3 Kennel Hill (J M Maguire) 66-1
19 ran
Also: 10-3 Fav Tell Massini, 28-1 Arvika Ligeonniere 4th
3.20 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup
1 Imperial Commander (P J Brennan) 7-1
2 Denman (A P McCoy) 4-1
3 Mon Mome (A Coleman) 50-1
11 ran
Also: 8-11 Fav Kauto Star, 33-1 Carruthers 4th
4.00 Christie's Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
1 Baby Run (Mr S Twiston-Davies) 9-2 Jt Fav
2 Kilty Storm (Mr D Queally) 16-1
3 Reach For The Top (Mr B Tuckey) 66-1
24 ran
Also: 9-2 Jt Fav Roulez Cool, 10-1 Gentle George 4th
4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
1 Pause And Clause (J W Farrelly) 14-1
2 Radium (Harry Skelton) 14-1
3 Clova Island (G Hawkins) 14-1
4 Peveril (D Bass) 5-1
24 ran
Also: 9-2 Fav Ashkazar
5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap
1 Pigeon Island (P J Brennan) 16-1
2 French Opera (D Bass) 10-1
3 Consigliere (T Scudamore) 16-1
19 ran
Also: 13-2 Fav You're The Top, 16-1 Cornas 4th