Imperial Commander odds-on to repeat Gold Cup win at Aintree

Imperial Commander is an odds-on shot to follow up last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup victory at Aintree on Thursday, following the news yesterday that he will face a maximum of four rivals in the Totesport Bowl. The Nigel Twiston-Davies runner is 5-6 with the sponsors to win at the Grand National meeting, a feat that is very rarely attempted by winners of chasing's Blue Riband. The Sir Alex Ferguson-owned What A Friend, who has been rested since his win at Christmas in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, is next in the betting at 3-1, with Nacarat at 9-2 and the Gold Cup also-rans Calgary Bay and Carruthers at 14-1 and 16-1 respectively. Madison Du Berlais, who had the option of running against Imperial Commander, will definitely run under the welter burden of 11st 10lb in Saturday's Grand National, meaning that the weights will not rise for the feature event of the meeting. Chester Barnes, the assistant to trainer David Pipe, said: "Tom Scudamore will partner our nine-year-old in the showpiece after schooling him over our National fences at home. He jumped very well and everyone could not be more pleased with his preparation." Barnes also reported that there had been no decision taken over whether Timmy Murphy will ride the stable's 2008 winner, and 2009 runner-up, Comply Or Die, or The Package. David Casey will ride Snowy Morning, despite taking a bad fall at Fairyhouse on Monday. The Irish rider was feared to have suffered a fractured pelvis but subsequent X-rays revealed he had not sustained a break. He is expected to be back in the saddle for tomorrow's meeting at Fairyhouse .