Imperial Commander produced an imperious display of jumping on rain-soaked ground to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for jockey Paddy Brennan and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies yesterday.
Billed as a showdown between twice winner Kauto Star and 2008 champion Denman, the race failed to follow the script after 8-11 favourite Kauto Star, who made a terrible mistake on the first circuit, fell four fences from home.
Denman, ridden by Tony McCoy, was going strongly turning from home but had no answer to Imperial Commander, who was going just as well and surged up the finishing hill.
The winner (7-1) had seven lengths to spare at the line with Denman (4-1) second, as he was to Kauto Sar last year, and last year's Grand National winner Mon Mome (50-1) third.