Trainer really really happy with Commander Imperial Commander cantered on Wednesday and Nigel Twiston-Davies now expects him to make the William Hill King George VI Chase. The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero returned from his Betfair Chase win with a cut leg and his participation in the Boxing Day showpiece had been in doubt. However the trainer told At The Races on Wednesday: "It's been causing us anxiety but the really good news today is he's had his first canter since. The worry is the cut will open again but it didn't and we're really, really happy and think we're going to get to Kempton now. "We have plenty of time, the horse was as fit as a flea before this happened, and the worry is he'll just nudge the cut and open it again but at the moment everything is going really well." The trainer is clearly angered by claims that his stable star isn't as effective going right-handed or that Kempton won't play to his strengths. "We were told he couldn't win anywhere but Cheltenham but then surprise surprise he wins at Haydock. He was only beaten a whisker by Kauto Star there the year before," he added. "Last year in the King George he got blinded at the second fence and basically split the fence and he was knocked out the race. He actually ran on very well to finish fifth or sixth. The year before he took the race to Kauto Star and was there to the turn for home and then faded - not because he couldn't go right-handed but his lungs were full of muck. "It's not the track, he's just a difficult horse to have right on the day. When he is right I'm hoping he's nearly unbeatable but we'll see."
