Nigel-Twiston Davies's Cheltenham Team

Imperial Commander

I am really pleased with him ahead of his defence of the Gold Cup. Everything is going right and he did a lovely bit of work this morning and is great form. His win up at Haydock was exceptional and having said that there was a lot of improvement in him as that was his first run. The injury he suffered that day was not serious - it was a cut that we had to keep clean so he could not exercise for three weeks.But it healed well and now he is fine. I wanted the chance to win the King George with him but he missed the race for 'political reasons' but he is in one piece and that is all that matters. He is easy enough to get fit and he has his crown to defend so I see no reason why he can't do it again. The old guard are the horses that scare me the most this year - Kauto Star and Denman as they are the horses that have proved it all. Imperial Commander's piece of work at Kempton recently was lovely and he did everything we asked of him. He is in great nick and is my most likely chance of a winner and I can't see what should be in front of him in the betting.

Khyber Kim

Very much seems to be the forgotten horse this year but he is the second or third top-rated hurdler in the country. He is 25/1 and I have helped myself to the price! He has not won this year and perhaps that is why he has been forgotten by people but he is in great form and as good as ever. He was not well after the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton as he had muck in his lungs so if you think of that, he did not run badly at all. He would have been an exceptional winner of the Champion Hurdle last year if Binocular had not been there - but he was and is again this time so that is a bit of a worry.

Major Malarkey

The ground was a bit soft for him last time at Haydock but he is a very nice horse and I would be very hopeful of him running a big race in the National Hunt Chase. Two years ago Tricky Trickster won the race for us and this a horse very much along the same lines.

Billie Magern

He has been very good and won four. He could be on a handy mark for the Kim Muir but I will have to talk to owner Roger Nichols as to whether we go for that race or the RSA Chase. He will be declared for both.

Sybarite

I am hoping he is perhaps my next Imperial Commander as he is a lovely, lovely horse. I am looking forward to running him in the Albert Bartlett and I have no worries about him stepping up to three miles. That is what he wants and he is in very good form.

Baby Run

He is a great favourite round the yard and has been with us a long time. He broke down so badly three or four years ago and was given to me but he is a tremendous horse and done everything we have asked of him. He seems better than ever at 11 - it sounds ridiculous - and Willie (Twiston-Davies) gets on well with him. I am really looking forward to the race.

Pigeon Island

I think that he will go back for the Grand Annual again which he won last year. We were all astounded with that victory and he has other options but let's go for it again.

Oscar Magic

Is entered in the Champion Bumper and won well at Kempton. Hopefully he could be my Cue Card. He was 8,000 euros from the sales in Ireland - we broke him and he has just blossomed. I think that he could be exceptional although you can't judge too much from just one run. But he did beat Imperial Commander in a gallop at Warwick and then a Henderson hotpot on his debut.


Best of the Rest

Swingkeel is in the Albert Bartlett and was second the other day - he is a nice horse. Amber Brook, Banjaxed Girl and L'accordioniste are all in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle and they have got very good chances.