REPORT GOLD CUP:AFTER ALL THE talk and all the hype it was Imperial Commander who landed a spectacular Cheltenham Gold Cup success for the men who stayed quiet, Paddy Brennan and Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Months of marketing spin counted for nothing as the much-anticipated blue-riband “decider” between Kauto Star and Denman fizzled out into nothing and reminded us all that when it comes to racing, even describing a two-horse race as a match-up should come with a disclaimer.
Kauto Star’s status as an all-time great of the game will survive his crashing exit at the fourth last yesterday and those who suspected Denman to be a rogue just looking for a way to dodge the hard slog were faced with the reality of a great grinder bravely fought it out yet again to finish runner-up for the second year running.
But the Paul Nicholls pair are now joined at steeplechasing’s top table by Imperial Commander, and that brings a very different vibe to a game that will continue to enthral on its own merits no matter how many marketing scarves are tied around it.
Whereas Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls appear to not so much sing from the same hymn-sheet as chant sometimes, there is a crackle to the relationship between Twiston-Davies and his Galway-born jockey that might not make them the “Odd Couple” but provides just as many laughs.
“I can’t tell you how honoured I feel to be part of Nigel Twiston-Davies’s team,” said 28-year-old Brennan afterwards. “He’s not only a boss, but he’s also a good friend.” “I’m not dying, Paddy!” was the riposte of a man born and brought up in Gloucestershire and who trains only a dozen miles from the track.
It’s easy to see how the two complement each other. “I’m not an easy person. If I’m not winning, I’m not happy,” Brennan admitted. “But what Nigel does for me, you just can’t buy. I couldn’t ride for just anyone, but he makes me feel like the best – even when I’m not.”
The jockey in turn has been known to take a pull on some of the more extravagant ambitions that Twiston-Davies runs with and the result has been a host of winners all season that was crowned yesterday by the most important of all. “The greatest day of my life,” gasped Brennan, while Twiston Davies grinned: “That’s another one on the CV. We had two Grand Nationals, now we’ve a Gold Cup. If Khyber Kim had won the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday we’d have the full bloody set!”
The banter only emphasised how silent the Imperial Commander camp had been on the run up to this week, not because of any desire to hide away, but it seemed because no one was interested.
“I enjoyed all the publicity around Kauto Star and Denman. We always thought we had the horse to beat them so we stayed quiet – and beat them,” said Twiston-Davies.
“All the hacks said he doesn’t stay but all he does is stay. If there’d been another 10 yards at Haydock (in November) he’d have beaten Kauto Star by miles. Paul (Nicholls) said his horse was only half fit but so was ours. And Kauto Star can’t keep doing it forever. Paul has done a great job with his two but we need new horses coming through and ours is the best now,” he added.
A desperate blunder at the eighth fence threw Kauto Star off course and he never looked happy again before crashing out at the fourth last. “It was a bad mistake and you cannot make a mistake like that with Denman and Imperial Commander in front of you. I couldn’t get a position or even an even keel after it. It’s just a relief he got up,” said Ruby Walsh.
That exit left Tony McCoy fancying his chances on Denman, but the 2008 winner was headed on the run to the second last and ultimately came up seven lengths short. It was another 23 lengths back to the Grand National winner Mon Mome in third.
“He is a very tough horse. I can’t see why he can’t come back. He ran in snatches . . . but you just have to pick him up,” McCoy said. “He would be a good ride in the Grand National but I’m not sure I’ll be able to get Ruby off.”
Liverpool’s conditions chase may also be on Imperial Commander’s agenda with a typically bullish Twiston-Davies declaring: “Kauto Star and Denman will hardly go there so it should be a penalty kick.”
Brennan had passed the post in front on Imperial Commander with his finger to his lips and explained: “I put the quiet sign up because he was probably a little bit forgotten coming into the race. What Kauto Star and Denman do for racing is fantastic but this lad is right there now.”
