IMPERIAL COMMANDER beats Kauto Star and Denman in a classic at the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Kauto Star vs Denman? That was what the script said, with Denman landing the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2008 and Kauto Star levelling the score with a similarly emphatic Cheltenham Festival success in the blue riband in 2019. Who would win the 'best of three' in this highly-anticipated decider?
Course specialist Imperial Commander was the third choice of the punters at 7/1, but the nine-year-old posted a top-class effort to deny his more lauded opponents and prevail by an easy seven lengths for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, jockey Paddy Brennan and owners Our Friends In The North.
This was no fluke either, with Imperial Commander a top-class racehorse when fresh after a break and over fences at Cheltenham, previously landing the highly-competitive Paddy Power Gold Cup at this track and landing Cheltenham Festivl glory the previous season with victory in the Ryanair Chase. Earlier in the current campaign, he finished just a nose behind Kauto Star in a thrilling Betfair Chase at Haydock.
Brennan said: "This is what it's all about, to win a Gold Cup. There are plenty of highs and lows in racing but this is a tremendous feeling, by far the best day in my life.
"Imperial Comander a brilliant horse who could do nothing but impress you. He's got a great trainer and great owners and there's a great team behind him​."
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "It's absolutely superb. I thought Kauto was in trouble some way out before he fell. All of the publicity was about Kauto Star and Denman, but we knew we were going to win, so we just stayed quiet. And now we've won."
#HorseRacing #KautoStar #CheltenhamFestival #Horses
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[@greenawayr08]

Backed him all through the season for this after the Betfair chase narrow defeat. Nigel had him trained to the minute for this. Superb effort.

[@johndoyle345]

RIP Denman (The Tank)

[@paulbryant1042]

A great horse.👏🐴

[@davidclarke6016]

4 out in the Gold Cup has broken so many hearts down the years.

[@jacob4690]

You mean 3

[@myfrobert]

TBH, he had already showed no signs of winning even before the field completed the first circuit.

[@anonymousanonymous3707]

​@@jacob4690if you know you know 😂

[@mcvicarross7]

Kauto Star was never winning that race, If the mighty Denman couldn't get to Imperial Commander nothing would've that day! Kauto Star probably hurt himself when he made that mistake or at least strained something, it didn't look to good at all! Some training performance by the team to get the winner there in that kind of form. 👍

[@paulbowles7426]

I actually backed the commander that day is always lovely to see a true warrior classy jumper good for paddy brenan

[@vencejo7572]

I backed him too, mainly because John Francome picked him.

[@markgould9259]

Made my day Paddy thankyou Imperial Commander was a great horse I hope he is chillin somewhere

[@noemiangeles9452]

¡Gracias por enviarme estas excelentes carreras con obstáculos! ¡Saludos desde México 🇲🇽!

[@trozz2273]

Impressive is of great motivation, greetings you have my support.I hope more Cheltenham Gold Cup material available in the future.

[@myfrobert]

Imperial Commander could have won more in his racing career without his health problem.

[@beverleymorris167]

👍

[@madforit2]

You could say that about so many horses though in fairness. Name of the game

[@judyparsons1333]

Denman was out for a time think it was something to do with his breathing what he could have done we will never know. Both denman and kauto were aged by this race.

[@mcvicarross7]

​@@judyparsons1333He had a seriously enlarged heart which came to light in the aftermath of his unbelievable Gold Cup performance in 2008. In spite of his injury he and Kauto Star still managed 3Gold Cups & several placings, 6King George's, 2 Hennessy's (think both off top weight), & countless other Grade1's & big race successes so I think it's fair to say they done alright eh? 😉😂👍❤

[@befairish]

Loved the Commander

[@irufushi5998]

Did my bollocks on kauto star in this race. 😭