Commander continues to please

Imperial Commander delighted connections in a two-mile workout before racing at Warwick in a second racecourse gallop in the space of a week.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was partnered by Paddy Brennan in a more searching gallop than had been the case at Chepstow on Welsh National day.

He tracked his lead horse Golden Jubilee and when Brennan asked him to go away he soon opened up a gap of some 15 lengths.

Brennan was pleased and is looking forward to Imperial Commander's first appearance of the season in the Argento Chase.

He said: "I was very happy with him, it was very pleasing. He needed a nice piece of work to bring him closer to the boil ahead of his reappearance and that was just the ticket.

"He showed me that he still has attitude even though he's getting older and it looks like Nigel has him just where he wants him."