Imperial Commander took the first steps towards a successful defence of his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown when taking the Betfair Chase ahead of the fast finishing and somewhat enigmatic Tidal Bay. Although winning by a margin of just one and a quarter lengths, success never really seemed in doubt for the 10/11 favourite, who went to the front with Nacarat at the first fence in the back straight and steadily ground out victory with a series of fluent jumps.
Trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, said: "That's just what I wanted. It was absolutely superb and I couldn't be happier. He will definitely come on for the race. He hasn't had a racecourse gallop or anything."
Jockey, Paddy Brennan, added: "Today the hype was all on us and it was great. And I'm sure he'll improve a lot more. I'm looking forward to another day in March in the Cotswolds."
Bookies responded by cutting his price for the 2011 Gold Cup to best-price 9/2 (William Hill).
Master Minded, who disappointed when bidding for a third successive Champion Chase at Cheltenham in the spring, put in an imperious display in the Amlin 1965 Chase on Saturday. Ridden by Noel Fehily, he stormed to victory after Tony McCoy suffered a nasty spill on Albertas Run.
He had not raced since March because of injury but jumped supremely to challenge long-time leader Albertas Run three from home. And when McCoy was sent flying at that fence, Fehily steered the 5/6 favourite home by a 16-length winning margin.
"He travelled sweetly and jumped sweetly," said Fehily of the 2008 and 2009 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner.
"It was desperate to see AP go like that, we were both going well but I was very happy with mine, popping away with plenty left. I've never ridden a horse that can get in and out of a fence so quickly."
His delighted trainer, Paul Nicholls, said: "He travelled brilliantly and jumped brilliantly - he obviously got the trip really well too...I'm chuffed to bits, we're back in business."
Bookies slashed the seven-year-old 2011 Champion Chase odds from around 11/2 to best-price 3/1 (Bet365) ahead of the 2010 victor, Big Zeb, who the same firm offer at 4/1.
There were two other impressive winners for Nicholls over the weekend. Silviniaco Conti, the French bred four-year-old moved firmly into the betting for the Champion Hurdle with a most impressive victory in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot.
He won by an easy seven lengths and the result was never in doubt once jockey Noel Fehily took up the running three out. This was a decent field of older horses and included last year's Champion Hurdle third Zaynar who could finish no better than fourth.
The horse had been raised 18lb for his previous success at Chepstow but travelled very well throughout the race and made a big impression on the winning jockey: "That was very, very exciting. I like the way he picked up in the straight and he was very, very slick over the hurdles."
Nicholls declared himself "astounded" by the performance and Silviniaco Conti will now be aimed at the stanjames.com International (formerly the Bula Hurdle) at Cheltenham next month, with the intention of finding out if he really is a Champion Hurdle candidate, for which he is now best-price 10/1 (Bet365).
Timeform certainly think he's a serious contender giving him a rating of 164, with a 'p' added to indicate that further improvement can be expected. 2010 Champion Hurdle winner, Binocular, is the only current hurdler with a higher rating.
Timeform ratings for leading Champion Hurdle contenders:
Binocular 168
Silvianaco Conti 164p
Khyber Kim 164
Hurricane Fly 163
Solwhit 162
Menorah 161
Go Native 160
Dunguib 152
Peddlers Cross 148p
Toubab laid down the gauntlet to Cue Card after destroying the field in the Coronation Street 50th Anniversary Novices' Hurdle at Haydock.
The grey is now a best-price 16/1 (William Hill) for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, for which Cue Card is 3/1 favourite, after strolling home by eight lengths.
"He was weak last year, but he ran really well in the Swinton Hurdle here. I didn't want to win an ordinary novice at that stage, so I put him away to start him from scratch this season" said Nicholls.
"I worked him with Master Minded on Wednesday and he was ready to go. We're going aim at the top two-mile novice races with him and that includes the Supreme Novices'."
Another contender in the Novice Hurdle division for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival is the hugely impressive Megastar who hosed up at Ascot on his hurdling debut.
The Gary Moore horse had a good season last year which included a win at Aintree in the Bumper race and he has taken to hurdles with some style, he cruised to victory in the 2 mile Robert Giles Agencies Introductory Hurdle and now looks set for an exciting campaign.
The bookmakers were certainly impressed and he was slashed across the board for both the Supreme Novices Hurdle, for which he is now best-price 20/1 (Skybet) and the Neptune Novices Hurdle, for which he is also best-price 20/1 (Paddy Power).
Connections are yet to make their mind over the ideal trip for Megastar who did pull hard at Ascot and it may be that the extra trip of the Neptune will suit him. That could also mean he would avoid an extremely competitive looking Supreme Novices division, with the aforementioned Cue Card and Toubab along with Zaidpor who looks a star for Willie Mullins and the impressive Dare Me, who has hacked up twice already this campaign.
Imperial Commander winning at Haydock at the weekend
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