The Grand National still on the cards for Imperial Commander

Imperial Commander the brilliant 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who has been plagued by setbacks over the last few years has been ruled out of next weeks Cheltenham Gold Cup due to a lung infection while two other Festival hopefuls from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard have also been ruled out of the Festival today on a terrible day for the stable.

The one bit of good news to report is that the trainer is very hopeful Imperial Commander will be back to full health in time to take up his entry in the Grand National and with the horse's tremendous record when fresh missing the Gold Cup could be a blessing in disguise and if he is anywhere near the same horse that defeated Denman in the 2010 Gold Cup and come agonisingly close to defeating the great Kauto Star in that epic running of the 2009 Betfair Chase the odds of 33-1 for the Grand National look very generous and I for one will certainly be having a few pounds on this one time 185 rated chaser and lets not forget Neptune Collonges only a year younger than Imperial Commander took last years National off 11-6 only two pound less than this popular 12 year old is set to carry in this years Aintree spectacular.

L'Escargot, Ben Nevis, Amberleigh House, Royal Athlete, Little Polvier and the great Red Rum all won the Grand National at the age of 12 and Imperial Commander will one of the best horse's to run in the race over the last 20 years and if he makes it to Aintree I strongly believe he is the type to relish the challenge of the worlds greatest steeplechase and providing he stayed out of trouble I would expect to be bang in contention come the business end of the race.