• Cheltenham Festival Day Four

Commander foils Denman as Kauto falls

Imperial Commander struck Gold Cup glory and Paddy Brennan let out a roar in the winner's enclosure © Getty Images

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• News: Imperial Commander leads Gold Cup field
  
• News: Denman 'very likely' to run in Scottish Grand National
  
• Profile: AP McCoy | Ruby Walsh

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Imperial Commander proved the party pooper by landing the Gold Cup from Denman, as Kauto Star fell when in trouble at the top of the hill.

There were doubts about Imperial Commander's stamina heading into the race, but last year's Ryanair Chase victor dispelled those fears with a powerful victory in the hands of Paddy Brennan - dashing the hopes of the hordes who were willing Denman on.

Kauto Star was backed in to odds-on favouritism, but appeared in trouble before falling four from the finish.

Carruthers led early at a decent gallop, with Denman, Imperial Commander and Kauto Star in close attendance.

The race seemed to be going according to script for the principals until the top of the hill first time round when Kauto Star made a quite shocking blunder. The horse worked wonders to find a leg and Ruby Walsh performed a miracle to stay on board. But the error knocked him back and must have knocked the stuffing out of the odds-on favourite.

Tony McCoy moved Denman upsides Carruthers turning out on to the second circuit, evoking memories of two years ago when Denman ground his rivals into submission. But Carruthers kept plugging away and it was not until five from home that Denman wrestled the initiative.

Kauto Star, despite the mistake, worked his way back into contention but was under pressure to make ground when taking a horrible fall - one which he thankfully got up from. At this point Denman moved to the front as Mccoy went for broke, but Imperial Commander was able to go with him and Brennan had the air of a confident man.

Imperial Commander had never before run over three-and-a-quarter miles and there were stamina doubts, but Brennan never had any concerns that his mount would not stay as he committed for home at the second last.

Imperial Commander found a length, but McCoy switched his mount looking for a renewed effort. Both horses came up superbly at the last and found plenty for pressure, but Denman could not get back to Imperial Commander who stayed on superbly to justify the faith of trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.

The rest were beaten a long way, but Mon Mome - Grand National winner last year - came from the clouds to take third and looks sure to head back to Aintree with a a live chance.

Imperial Commander jumped the last ahead of Denman and was not for catching © Getty Images

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"By far the best day of my life, I will never forget this," was Brennan's immediate reaction in an interview to Channel 4. "It was just a dream the whole way."

On Kauto Star's mistake and subssequent fall, Walsh said: "It was a bad mistake, it knocked me out of position and obviously had an effect as he was never travelling after and I could never get him on an even keel. You can't make a mistake like that with the calibre of horses of Imperial Commander, Denman and Cooldine in front of you. They take your position and that's it then, you are fighting a lost cause.

"It was a bad fall, but he's alright, not a bother on him, and we will go again another day."

Speaking about Denman, McCoy said: "It is disappointing to finish second, but I had a great ride. He ran a bit in snatches, but he ran his heart out in the end and I can't have any excuses. He got beat by a better horse on the day."

Soldatino wore down the brave Barizan to land the JCB Triumph Hurdle for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty.

Soldatino came into the race on the back of an impressive win at the speed track that is Kempton, but on this occasion he needed to show endless stamina to overhaul the front-running Barizan and hand Henderson his fifth Triumph Hurdle success.

Barizan set a fierce gallop and combined with slick jumping allowed him to open up a huge lead. At the top of the hill, Evan Williams' Barizan was in front by 25 lengths and all those in behind were hard at work.

Turning for home, Tom O'Brien asked Barizan for one last effort but the gallant four-year-old started to wander. O'Brien asked for a big jump at the last, but his tired mount put down and this handed the closing Soldatino a chance; the French import answered his pilot's call to overhaul the second in the final 100 yards.

Soldatino showed great stamina to take the Triumph Hurdle from Barizan © Getty Images

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"It was a good performance," Geraghty said. "The second horse went off very quick and I had to drop in and switch off. But he went so quick he always had to stop. I was always happy, I gave him a couple of taps going to the last to keep him going forward and I knew he would get there well enough."

Barizan was carried out on his shield, as he had all bar Soldatino shot to bits a long way out, while Irish raiders Alaivan and favourite Carlito Brigante filled the minor places.

Katie Walsh secured her second win of the Festival with a cosy victory aboard Willie Mullins' Thousand Stars in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.

The race was run at a furious gallop and Thousand Stars relished the pace as he came with a fine late run to land the race from Arcalis.

Confirmed front-runner Marodima set out to make it a test, but unlike Barizan in the previous race that one was never able to establish a telling lead. A host of horses had chances with two to jump, but the fall of Izita Star caused carnage and did for the hopes of favourite backers as Tito Bustillo was hampered and lost all chance.

Dee Ee Williams dashed clear after two from home and it looked for a moment as though he might hold on, but it is a long run to the post from the second last at Cheltenham and Walsh brought Thousand Stars down the outside and struck the front at the final flight.

A number of runners finished with a rattle, including previous Festival winner Arcalis, but Thousand Stars powered clear to win with a deal of authority.

Thousand Stars powered up the hill to land the County Hurdle © Getty Images

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Berties Dream showed bottomless stamina to land a punishing renewal of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle for trainer John Gilligan.

The rain began to fall before the race and it seemed to have an impact as the runners finished very tired, with 33/1 shot Berties Dream getting the better of a battle with Najaf.

Premier Victory gave a fine sight out in front but was found wanting when Restless Harry dashed clear jumping two from home. Henry Oliver pinched five lengths, but it looked as if he had gone early and so it proved as he was flanked turning into the straight by Najaf Berties Dream.

Things got a little tight heading to the last and Restless Harry was the sufferer as he was squeezed out and it seemed to knock his concentration as he tumbled to the ground. It made no difference as he was beaten at the time and Berties Dream found plenty for Andrew Lynch to land the spoils.

The Twiston-Davies camp's fabulous day continued, as Baby Run supplemented the gains of Imperial Commander with victory in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase.

Baby Run, ridden by the trainer's son Sam Twiston-Davies, set out to make all and never saw another rival. He beat off challenge after challenge and was clear at the last. A slow jump gave Kilty Storm half a chance and Baby Run started to wander, but he had his ears pricked up the hill and won with plenty in hand.

Pause And Clause stuck on grimly up the hill to land the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle for trainer Emma Lavelle and jockey Johnny Farrelly.

Farrelly had his mount well placed from the off and took up the lead round the wide outside at the second last. He looked a sitting duck as Radium closed in the straight, but Pause And Clause found plenty for pressure to seal victory.

Pigeon Island rounded off the Festival in style for Gold Cup winning connections Brennan and Twiston-Davies with victory in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.

Consigliere cruised into contention and looked sure to win when drawing alongside French Opera at the last, but he was found wanting up the hill and Pigeon Island swooped fast and late under Brennan to score.

The win was the third of the day and meeting for Twiston-Davies but Nicky Henderson, trainer of French Opera, was crowned top trainer and Ruby Walsh top jockey.

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