Imperial Cup at Sandown Park

the week before Chelteham is obviously not notable for top class N.H. racing, but today´s Sandown card, featuring the Imperial Cup, a valuable 2 mile handicap hurdle at 16.05 CET, is the exception. This is always one of the best handicaps of the season, and the huge bonus offered for a horse that wins here and goes on to score at Cheltenham next week adds to the attraction. With 24 runners the race is extremely open. The likely favourites are Qaspal (Philip Hobbs/ Tony McCoy) and Pepe Simo (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), but that is as much because of their powerful connections than because they stand out on form, and value seekers should look elsewhere. We quite like Hobbs´ other runner Oldrik (Richard Johnson), one of 3 German-breds in the field, and the other two also have chances- El Dancer (Lucy Wadham/ Barry Geraghty) and Press the Button (James Boyle/ Steven Craine). Another for the short list is Aather (Alan Fleming/ Timmy Murphy), but with conditions exactly right for E l Dancer, we make him a good each-way bet at long odds.

Another ferociously difficult handicap is the novice hurdle at 15.00, where Richard Johnson again has good prospects on his father-in-law´ s Fabulous Fred. With 13 of the 18 runners having finished first or second last time, this is very tricky, and we also like Ranjobaie (David Bass), one of two Nicky Henderson entries, and Babysitter (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan).

Nicky Henderson should in any case be on the scoreboard with Lifestyle (Geraghty) in the mares open bumper at 16.40, while the best chance for the Nicholls/ Walsh team is probably Tchico Polos in the novice chase at 17.15.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Ranjobaie - Alfie Spinner - Red Harbour
2. Race: Meanus Dandy - Appleaday - Dead Or Alive
3. Race: Qaspal - Pepe Simo - Aather
4. Race: Lifestyle - Mizzurka - Chicklemix
5. Race: Tchico Polos - King Edmund - Joe Jo Star
6. Race: Nikos Extra - Oracle Des Mottes - Fit To Drive