Imperial Commander ruled out for season with tendon injury

Imperial Commander won the 2010 Gold Cup but pulled up in this year's race

Imperial Commander has been ruled out for the rest of the season after a tear was found on his foreleg tendon.

The 10-year-old, last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner, had returned to pre-training in Ireland after bursting a blood vessel defending his crown.

He had been due to return to the Gloucestershire yard of trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who said: "We haven't seen him as he hasn't been back.

"I haven't seen it myself but the injury sounds very slight."

He added: "I'd imagine we won't see him back until next year now, but I would hope he will return."