ROBERT THORNTON AND IMPERIAL COMMANDER TO MISS CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

IT'S BEEN a week of tumbles and disappointment in the racing world - first Imperial Commander pulled out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and then Robert Thornton was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Imperial Commander, the 2010 Gold Cup winner, was set to make a comeback and possibly regain his crown, but a lung infection forced his trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, to pull him out of the race.

After an absence of nearly two years, the veteran chaser emerged as a surprise contender in one of the most biggest races in the sport, when he finished second in the Argento Chase in January.

However, despite the disappointment, connections hope he will recover in time for the John Smith's Grand National next month.

While Twiston-Davies keeps his fingers-crossed for the 12-year-old horse, jockey Robert Thornton revealed he broke his arm in a fall at Southwell on Monday and will now miss the remainder of the season.

Thornton, one of my favourite jockeys and a true gentleman (I have met him a few times and he is lovely), also damaged his spine in the tumble from Our Phylli Vera in a handicap hurdle, but it's hoped surgery will not be required.

The Cheltenham Festival will not be the same without the two sporting greats, but I, along with everyone in the racing world, wishes them a speedy and healthy recovery.

HEROIC IMPERIAL COMMANDER BIDS TO REGAIN GOLD CUP CROWN

IMPERIAL COMMANDER is around 20/1 to regain his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown after his heroic performance at the Festival Trials.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies was thrilled with the way the 12-year-old battled against the field in the Argento Chase last month.

After leading for a long way throughout the chase, Imperial Commander was just caught by Cape Tribulation and went down to second by half-a-length.

But the 2010 Gold Cup hero will now bid to become the second horse - after Kauto Star in 2009 - to regain his crown and the first 12-year-old since What A Myth in 1969.

Twiston-Davies' horse certainly pulled off a breath-taking win at Cheltenham last month and regained fans in the process.

He hadn't run for 680 days and suffered a set back at the beginning of the season, but still managed to finish in a respectable position.

With the odds of 20/1, and Bobs Worth being the 3/1 favourite, Imperial Commander may seem like the dark the horse in the race.

But I think a small flutter on the Twiston-Davies trained horse would not go amiss. 

He produced the wow factor and did what Kauto Star managed to do: doubted the punters who said he was too old to win again. He is a joy to watch and I personally did not think we would see him again. 

I think Imperial Commander is one to consider and should not be crossed off the list.

He stormed up the hill like a steam train in the Festival Trials and I believe he can do it again, but this time finish one place better.

LIST OF 84 ENTRIES FOR 2013 GRAND NATIONAL

The 2013 Grand National has attracted 84 entries, including popular horses Imperial Commander, On His Own, Tidal Bay, Sunnyhillboy and Chicago Grey.
Below is the list of entries (trainer's name in brackets).

Across The Bay (D McCain)

Albertas Run (J O'Neill)

Alfie Sherrin (J O'Neill)

Always Waining (P Bowen)

Any Currency (M Keighley)

Auroras Encore (S Smith)

Backstage (G Elliott)

Ballabriggs (D McCain)

Balthazar King (P Hobbs)

Becauseicouldntsee (N Glynn)

Beshabar (T Vaughan)

Big Fella Thanks (T George)

Bob Lingo (T Mullins)

Bostons Angel (Mrs J Harrington)

Calgary Bay (M Channon)

Call The Police (W Mullins)

Cappa Bleu (E Williams)

Chicago Grey (G Elliott)

Cloudy Lane (D McCain)

Colbert Station (T Walsh)

Cross Appeal (N Meade)

Fabalu (D McCain)

Forpadydeplasterer (T Cooper)

Frisco Depot (C Longsdon)

Gullible Gordon (P Bowen)

Harry The Viking (P Nicholls)

Imperial Commander (N Twiston-Davies)

Jessies Dream (G Elliott)

Join Together (P Nicholls)

Joncol (P Nolan)

Katenko (V Williams)

Lambro (W Mullins)

Lion Na Bearnai (T Gibney)

Little Josh (N Twiston-Davies)

Lost Glory (J O'Neill)

Magnanimity (D Hughes)

Major Malarkey (N Twiston-Davies)

Matuhi (D Pipe)

Midnight Chase (N Mulholland)

Mister Hyde (J O'Neill)

Mortimers Cross (J Needham)

Mr Moonshine (Mrs S Smith)

Mumbles Head (P Bowen)

Ninetieth Minute (T Taaffe)

Odysseas (Y Porzier)

On His Own (W Mullins)

Organisedconfusion (A Moore)

Oscar Time (M Lynch)

Outlaw Pete (J Halley)

Pandorama (N Meade)

Pearlysteps (H Daly)

Pentiffic (Miss V Williams)

Planet of Sound (P Hobbs)

Poker De Sivola (F Murphy)

Prince De Beauchene (W Mullins)

Problema Tic (D Pipe)

Quel Esprit (W Mullins)

Quinz (P Hobbs)

Quiscover Fontaine (W Mullins)

Quito De La Roque (C Murphy)

Rare Bob (D Hughes)

Roberto Goldback (N Henderson)

Roi Du Mee (G Elliott)

Romanesco (G Elliott)

 Saint Are (T Vaughan

Seabass (T Walsh)

Shakervilz (W Mullins)

Soll (J Hughes)

Summery Justice (V Williams)

Sunnyhillboy (J O'Neill)

Swing Bill (D Pipe)

Tarquinius (G Elliott)

Tartak (T Vaughan)

Tatenen (R Rowe)

Teaforthree (Miss R Curtis)

The Package (D Pipe)

The Rainbow Hunter (K Bailey

Tidal Bay (P Nicholls)

Tofino Bay (D Hughes)

Treacle (T Taaffe)

Viking Blond (N Twiston-Davies)

Weird Al (D McCain)

What A Friend (P Nicholls)

Wyck Hill (D Bridgwater)