Race Against Time For Imperial Betfair Chase Return

Nigel Twiston-Davies, who sent out three winners at Cheltenham’s first fixture of the new National Hunt season, has his horses in terrific form at present but even with the yard flying there are genuine fears that their 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander might not be quite ready in time to make his eagerly awaited reappearance at Haydock on November 24 in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, writes Elliot Slater.

The now 11-year-old son of Flemensfirth hasn’t been seen in public since pulling up in the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup won by Long Run. He was dismounted immediately and found to be lame, and has been struggling with a series of setbacks ever since that have resulted in his extended absence from competitive action.

Earlier this month Twiston-Davies issued an upbeat bulletin about his star three-mile chaser and those looking for Betfair chase betting tips will be keen to hear his positive prognosis.

Twiston-Davies suggested Imperial Commander would be back in action in the showcase Haydock event in which he failed by just a nose to defeat the mighty Kauto Star in 2009 before gaining deserved compensation in landing the contest 12 months later from the enigmatic Tidal Bay.

Now it appears touch and go as to whether or not the gelding (now very much into the veteran stage of his career), will be ready in time despite the fine form of his yard and the ideal current prevailing ground conditions that make preparing the horse on the home gallops that much easier. With no decision yet having been made as to the future of Imperial Commander’s old rival Kauto Star,punters who bet on horse racing will be pushed towards one horse – Long Run. The way could be left clear to return to the top of the tree with last year’s Gold Cup winner Synchronised having sadly suffered a fatal injury when falling in the John Smith’s Grand national at Aintree in April.