/ Tony Calvin / 23 March 2010 /

A golden era for staying chasers, say Timeform

Timeform today announced that Imperial Commander has been given a rating of 184 for his Cheltenham Gold Cup success.

This places him amongst the top ten chasers of all time and confirms that, in the view of the esteemed ratings organisation, this is a top-notch crop of staying chasers.

Imperial Commander ([5.9] to repeat at Cheltenham, 2011) joins Kauto Star ([6.2]) and Denman ([15.5]) in the select band of chasers to have broken the 182 barrier.

Reflecting on the other championship-winning performances last week, Binocular is now rated 168, the highest Champion Hurdle winning performance since Rooster Booster in 2003, whilst Big Buck's and Big Zeb emerge from their victories with ratings of 174+ and 169 respectively.

Kieran Packman, Timeform's spokesman, commented: "The fall of Kauto Star, in our eyes, failed to stop the Gold Cup being a race of rare quality, a tremendous duel between two top-notch horses resulting in one of the best-ever performances in the great race, a test worthy of the Blue Riband of steeplechasing.

"Imperial Commander made further progress to win the race, putting up a figure that betters even Kauto Star's own success in the race twelve months ago."

Timeform's leading chasers of all time...
Arkle 212
Flyingbolt 210
Kauto Star, Mill House 191
Desert Orchid 187
Dunkirk 186
Burrough Hill Lad, Imperial Commander, Moscow Flyer 184
Denman, Master Oats 183
Azertyuiop, Best Mate, Captain Christy, Carvill's Hill, Kicking King, See More Business, Well Chief 182

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