Commander pleases

Imperial Commander was reported to be much more like his old self as he continued the build-up to his defence of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup with a gallop before racing at Kempton.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' gelding has raced only once this season, winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock, but he needed time off with a cut leg and had not really sparkled in another public workout at Warwick.

"He's a different horse, I swear," said jockey Paddy Brennan after he completed an easy circuit of the track just ahead of stablemate Sybarite.

"He felt a million dollars."

Twiston-Davies and Brennan also gave last year's Champion Hurdle runner Khyber Kim a spin with Astracad.

"I was very pleased with both of them," said Twiston-Davies.

"It has been a hard winter and good for them to have a little bit of a blow.

"We didn't ask them anything exceptional, but it was a very good bit of work by both and it will bring them on more than doing a piece of work at home.

"Khyber Kim is the forgotten horse of the Champion Hurdle. If the handicapper is to be believed then we'll finish second."