Imperial Commander: remains in the Gold Cup picture despite Kempton run
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.comTwiston-Davies team keep faith with Imperial
NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES had a Boxing Day to forget when failing to find a winner from 12 runners. The best the master of Grange Hill Farm could manage was a third place finish with Flemish Invader at Huntingdon.
The most disappointing of Twiston-Davies runners was Ryanair Chase winner Imperial Commander, who was beaten 64 lengths into fifth behind history making Kauto Star in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.
However, the trainer and his team are willing to put the performance down to the configuration of the track and have not lost faith in the stable star who remains on target for the Totesport Gold Cup in March.
Speaking on the Bronwen's Blog section of nigeltwistondavies.co.uk, a spokesperson for the yard, said: "One of the strengths of Imperial Commander is his jumping, but at Kempton in the big race this went to pot and it's now generally accepted that the track just isn't for him.
"There'll be many now writing him off for the Gold Cup in March, but they've been proved wrong before - and could well be again."
