Commander bids to maintain course record

Last year's Gold Cup was built up as a shootout between Kauto Star and Denman and history will show that Imperial Commander spoiled the party.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' 10-year-old is a stereotypical Cheltenham specialist, with six of his eight career wins coming at the home of National Hunt racing.

Connections made no secret of the fact they were slightly miffed about being the forgotten horse last year - but he heads into this year's renewal as the favourite.

He has held that position ever since his win 12 months ago, although he has only run twice since.

Having fallen at Aintree he showed that his engine still remained in full working order when winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock on his only start of the season.

"Everything has been 100% with him for the last few weeks," said Twiston-Davies.

"We've had a gallop at Warwick and then we took him to Kempton where he went well.

"There's a bit of rain forecast depending on who you listen to, but I don't think it really matters at all to him.

"He won on good ground last year, but he's won on soft plenty of times.

"There's a lot of talk about the old and new guard, but they've all got him to beat."

After a stellar week, the Irish will be hoping they can take home the blue riband event and they have their strongest challenge for a while.

Willie Mullins sends over Kempes, winner of the Hennessy at Leopardstown on his last start when ridden by David Casey.

"Everything has gone right, he ran a cracker in the Lexus - Tony (McCoy) told me he still hadn't gone for him when he fell at the second-last, and he franked that form in the Hennessy," said Mullins.

"David rode him there and got him jumping fantastically and in a great rhythm. He popped the last and won well.

"The ground drying will suit him and if he can get into a jumping rhythm early on and have a clear round, who knows what will happen."

McCoy is looking forward to getting back on board.

"He was pretty good when I won on him in Punchestown last year and maybe it wasn't a strong renewal of the Hennessy but he won quite well," he said.

"He's got plenty to find with the likes of Imperial Commander and Long Run, but it is the Gold Cup and you never know what can happen.

"Imperial Commander has had a quiet season but he has the form from last year. It's very hard to win back-to-back Gold Cups.

"Long Run was very impressive in the King George and obviously Kauto Star and Denman are getting a bit older, but they are pretty good yardsticks and they'll make sure what ever beats them has a tough race."

China Rock's price has contracted in recent days and Mouse Morris, already on the board after First Lieutenant's win in the Neptune, is hoping he will be at home on the ground.

"He has been fourth on his two previous appearances at Cheltenham, so we know that he acts round the track. He will be two stone better on a faster surface and realistically I am hoping that he can be placed," said Morris.

One Irish contender who will be hoping the forecast rain materialises is Noel Meade's Pandorama, who has only tasted defeat once over fences when pulled up in the Hennessy at Newbury.

"I can't understand why everyone is knocking the horse so much," his owner Robert Bagnall told At The Races.

"Everything went wrong for him in the Hennessy. The start was wrong and he was nearly brought down and Paul (Carberry) decided to pull him up.

"Noel thought he'd win the Hennessy and he is not someone who is always confident. I just think we've been totally underestimated.

"I remember when he won his first bumper in Fairyhouse, it wasn't pure mud.

"Obviously he would prefer the ground if it rains on Thursday, but the ground isn't going to dry out too much now.

"The hill will suit him. The Irish horses and the English horses haven't competed against each other before so it is hard to say.

"I just have the feeling that Pandorama is every bit as good as Imperial Commander and Kauto Star and Denman as well, but maybe I'm biased."