Cornelius Lysaght column

By Cornelius Lysaght BBC racing correspondent

The most exciting aspect of the recently completed Flat racing season was also its least exciting.

With success in no less than 23 European Group One races, trainer Aidan O'Brien dominated things to such an extent that many of us yearned for more competition.

Aiden O'Brien has enjoyed a hugely successful year

OK, some, like trainers Jim Bolger, Freddie Head and John Gosden, plus owner Princess Haya of Jordan, did so, but clearly the main story of 2008 was the manner in which Ireland-based O'Brien and the whole Coolmore team farmed most of the top races.

To achieve what they did was nothing short of sensational, but as renowned sportsmen and women they would have liked to have been pressed harder.

So, here's to everybody having a good winter, but it would be terrific for Flat racing if the guys from Tipperary were given a tighter run for their money next time around.

Entering the core jump racing season there has been concern, too, of over-domination, in this case by the powerful Somerset team of champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Sending out Denman, Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges to fill the first three places in last March's Cheltenham Gold Cup seemed to be a sign of things to come.

And although Denman is out of action following a heart complaint until the New Year, a string of other winners - including an impressive return by Kauto Star at Down Royal, Northern Ireland - had Nicholls' rivals fearing the worst.

But, with its requirement of a fine dollop of good fortune as well as talent, jump racing does not work quite like the Flat.

606: DEBATE How will Aidan O'Brien do next season?

It is true that Nicholls is holding his principal training opponents at bay, but the 46-year-old is not getting everything his own way en route to what will be, if it comes off, a fourth successive championship.

Alan King also has a powerful squad, Philip Hobbs and Evan Williams are more than holding their own, Nicky Henderson has some fine firepower and Jonjo O'Neill is always thereabouts.

But from stables in the muddy Cotswolds, not far from the sport's HQ at Cheltenham, it is Nigel Twiston-Davies who has been having the lovers of fierce competition cheering loudest.

Twiston-Davies won the Paddy Power Gold Cup with Imperial Commander

Those that thought the Nicholls army would march into Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting and simply snatch the fixture's Gold Cup without facing much in the way of resistance were mistaken.

There was an Imperial Commander in their way; and the Twiston-Davis-trained horse, ridden by his superb newish number one jockey Paddy Brennan, put in a performance to match his name and keep up the red-hot form of the stable.

I do not think that the ever-colourful NTD's horses have been off colour for any serious length of time (more than a week or two) for two years now, and it shows.

In the prize money-judged championship Twiston-Davies is more than keeping tabs on Nicholls, and gives no sign of letting up.

And with Imperial Commander he may just have the horse to interrupt the prospect of another 1-2-3 for the champion trainer in the Gold Cup in March. And that takes a very good horse.