BrennanÕs ride of a lifetime

Date Published: {J}

John McIntyre

IT doesn’t carry the hype or the prizemoney of the Aintree Grand National, but for National Hunt purists the most prestigious prize in chasing is the Cheltenham Gold Cup and, last week in the Cotswolds, a 28-year-old Galway man joined an elusive band of jockeys to savour this big race triumph.

Paddy Brennan is still on cloud nine after steering Imperial Commander to a rousing victory in the annual highlight of the winter game’s greatest meeting at Cheltenham last Friday as his brave mount burst the bubble of the Paul Nicholls’ heavyweights, Kauto Star and Denman, in spectacular fashion.

The build up to the Gold Cup had been dominated by the latest mid-March clash between the reigning champion, Kauto Star, and 2008 winner, Denman, but all the post race headlines were monopolised by the well supported Imperial Commander whose previous five wins at the track stamped him as a horse which thrived on its unique undulations.

Having partnership Imperial Commander to Ryanair Chase glory at the previous Cheltenham festival and getting to within a whisker of Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last November, Brennan had been bullish that his mount would make the step up in grade despite being left trailing in the King George at Kempton on St. Stephen’s Day.

The 7/1 third favourite was always in a prominent position and after going second four fences from home, Imperial Commander ominously ranged up alongside Deman before seizing the initiative at the second last. Already the toiling Kauto Star had crashed out at the top of the hill.

Up front, Imperial Commander was emphatically making a mockery of any stamina doubts by powering home for a convincing seven lengths success. Brennan was ecstatic in the moments, minutes, and hours after the greatest win of his career: “It’s by far the best day of my life. I will never forget this. It was just a dream the whole way.”

His feet have barely touched the ground in the meantime, but Ardrahan’s greatest ever sporting export was still professional enough – he spent some time in the sauna after the Gold Cup to ensure he made the weight of 10st 1lbs – to steer 14/1 outsider Pigeon Island to a last gasp victory in the Grand Annual Chase less than two hours later in the festival finale. It put the seal on a dream day.

“I have never done overweight on a horse in my life and If I hadn’t gone to the sauna, I would have put up one pound extra on Pigeon Island than he was supposed to carry. It could have made all the difference in the end. They were different owners (Pigeon Island) and I owed it to them to give their horse every chance.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.