Commander Imperial in Ryanair

Paddy Brennan from Ardrahan in Co. Galway has never hidden his admiration for Imperial Commander and he came out best in a titanic three-way battle for the Ryanair Chase.

A couple of mistakes didn't help odds-on favourite, Voy Por Ustedes, but to his credit he came there with his chance at the business end. Dessie Hughes' Schindlers Hunt ran the race of his life but he couldn't raise any more late on the run-in. In the end Imperial Commander beat Voy Por Ustedes by two lengths with Schindlers Hunt three parts of a length back in third.

Brennan said: "I'm just so glad he proved me right. It has been a frustrating year but I promise you this is worth forty winners. Choc (Thornton, rider of Voy Por Ustedes) loomed up turning in and I could see he wasn't travelling and I was really happy because I knew my lad would stay up the hill. He is very very good and as I say I'm just so happy.

"When you are at Cheltenham you feel that there is nobody in the crowd until you cross the line in front and then you just take it all in and it is the best feeling in the world."

For winning trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has endured a frustrating time for much of the season, it was a second winner of the 2009 Festival, following on from Tricky Trickster's win in the 'four-miler' yesterday. That fellow was an ex-Irish 'pointer,' having won over here for Denis Murphy and Imperial Commander also graduated from racing 'between the flags' in Ireland.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase winner scored at Summerhill in a division of the two and a half mile four-year-old maiden well over three years ago.

Partnered by Jimmy Henry on that occasion, the Flemensfirth gelding got to the front at the last in a grief stricken affair, quickening impressively to win by eight lengths from Andsosayallofus.

Trained at the time by Eyssen and Kevin Ross, Imperial Commander had been purchased by Bloodstock Ireland for the Our Friends In The North syndicate, whose members come from all over England. As the story was carried in the Irish Field at the time, he was sourced from trainer, Colin McKeever (who gave E19,000 for him at June's Land Rover Sale in Goffs) after being spotted "flying" at home. (EM)