Paddy Brennan stated on Friday morning that he "wouldn't want to ride anything else" in the totesport Gold Cup and his bullish remarks proved to be well-founded as Imperial Commander scooted up the Cheltenham hill to land the highlight of the Festival.
Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge had previously shown his liking for Prestbury Park having won last year's renewal of the Ryanair Chase and the nine-year-old repeated the trick under a superb ride Paddy Brennan ride.
Imperial Commander (7-1) came within a nose of defeating the 2009 Gold Cup champion Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November but it was Kauto Star's stablemate Denman that proved the most difficult horse to pass on Friday after Ruby Walsh's mount came to grief a few from home.
8-11 favourite Kauto Star made a terrible mistake on the first circuit, when down on his nose, and although he recovered, he never travelled after that and then fell at the fourth-last. The two-time Gold Cup-winner got up and was ridden back to the unsaddling enclosure by a disconsolate Ruby Walsh.
In a dramatic race, reigning champion Kauto Star - chasing a hat-trick of Gold Cup successes - made a horrendous mistake at the eighth fence and never really recovered.
In contrast, fellow Paul Nicholls' inmate Denman travelled with zest towards the head of affairs under Tony McCoy, but Paddy Brennan oozed confidence as his mount was cantering all over him turning for home.
Denman, as is his nature, refused to go down without a fight, but Imperial Commander began to stamp his authority on the run to the last and passed the post with plenty in hand.
Denman filled the runner-up spot for the second year in succession, while last year's Grand National winner Mon Mome (50-1) finished strongly to finish third.
Galway-native Brennan said: "It's by far the best day of my life. I'm speechless. It was a dream the whole way.
"I've just got to take time to thank my boss (Twiston-Davies). He's the best boss ever - he's produced two horses this week (Imperial Commander and Champion Hurdle runner-up Khyber Kim) and I just had had to steer them."
Twiston-Davies added: "It's absolutely superb. "I thought Kauto was in trouble some way out before he fell.
"All the hacks (press) were saying he didn't stay so we'll go for the Ryanair next year!
"It's just absolutely brilliant. It's been very hard for us sat there with the third-favourite when all the talk was about Kauto and Denman but we always knew we were going to win."