Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has revealed he was in bed by 11.30pm
on Friday night despite celebrating taking home the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Nigel, 52, enjoyed a treble on the last day of the Festival with Imperial Commander, Baby Run and Pigeon Island all finishing first.
To add to the celebrations Nigel’s 17-year-old son Sam, who works at his Grange Hill Farm stables in Naunton, Glos., rode Baby Run home.
As Nigel paraded Imperial Commander at 11am on Saturday outside the Hollow Bottom pub in Guiting Power, Glos., he described him as a ”lovely, friendly horse”.
He said: ”I’m feeling great. We are very happy and it’s coming down to earth. I came home at 11.30pm last night – so it was a pretty sensible night.
”We were celebrating and drinking at the Hollow Bottom but I went home when I was full up.
”We have had the horse for four years now, building up to this and we have finally got there.
”He’s very gentle and calm. He’s a lovely horse and very relaxed. Everybody loves him because he’s friendly to everyone.
”The big favourite was Kauto Star and he only beat us by a hair’s breadth earlier in the season so we were very hopeful.
”Hopefully he will go to Aintree in three weeks time and he will be back for Cheltenham next year.
”We had a quietish start to the festival but three winners on the last day.
”We were feeling deflated after coming second in the Champion Hurdle but he’s more than made up for that.”
Nigel’s son Sam, who won the amateur’s Foxhunter Chase on Baby Run, praised the ”incredible atmosphere” of Cheltenham Festival.
He said: ”I was very lucky to be able to ride him. It was a brilliant day and after Imperial Commander the pressure was off me so everything went to plan.
”It was an amateur ride but the atmosphere was special like something you couldn’t imagine in your wildest dreams.”
