Imperial ready for Gold Cup (From Evesham Journal)

Imperial ready for Gold Cup

1:30pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in Sport

NIGEL Twiston-Davies feels Imperial Commander’s preparation for next month’s Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup is well on course.

The 2010 champion returned after an enforced absence of nearly two years when narrowly beaten in the Argento Chase.

“He’s great, it’s all systems go,” said the Naunton trainer of the 11-year-old. “He will probably have a racecourse gallop somewhere, just to keep him ticking over.”

Twiston-Daves will also boast the likes of The New One and African Gold, a 13-8 winner at Doncaster last week, at Cheltenham.

Master Of The Sea (8-1) continued his march up the weights by winning Newbury’s Betfair Don’t Settle For Less Handicap Hurdle.

Twiston-Davies’ five-yearold, up 38lbs since Hereford in December, has won four consecutive races.

“He needed to run,” said the trainer.