14:25 Sandown
Saturday 8 March 2025
All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45
Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)
- 4YO plus | Class 2 | 1m 7f 216y | Good to Soft (Good in places) | 17 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 4m 0.0s
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Grade 2 novice hurdle winner last season and improved again to make a winning return in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las in October. Runner-up on 2 of his 3 subsequent starts, including in a valuable 17-runner Newbury handicap (16.3f, soft) last month, and he has to enter calculations.
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Enhanced fine record when fresh by landing a heavy-ground C&D handicap on return in December, proving 8 lengths too strong for multiple subsequent winner Nemean Lion. Had 3 of these behind when a cracking third off this 7 lb higher mark when going for a big pot at Windsor next time. Each-way shout.
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Promising juvenile hurdler for Gary Moore in 2022/23, winning twice and second in Grade 1 at Aintree. Good start for new yard following a 20-month absence in a Cheltenham handicap in December and, though he failed to build on that at Ascot next time, this 6-y-o could still have untapped potential.
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French recruit who has yet to strike for this yard but he's on a workable mark judged on some pieces of form, including on latest start when coming down at the final flight in a major handicap at Leopardstown (2m, good to soft) where he was staying on well at the time. Merits respect.
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Useful mare who had a breathing operation prior to a successful reappearance over C&D in November and quickly back on track to double her tally for the season at Kempton during the Christmas period. Latest third in an Ascot Grade 2 was no backward step and she's not without each-way hope.
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Returned as good as ever over hurdles when runner-up at Carlisle in December and, back up in grade, he again ran well when fifth of 14 at Windsor (2m, good to soft) in January. However, he was mid-field in the 2023 renewal of this and a similar scenario is likely this time round.
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Consistent type who completed the hat-trick when cosily seeing off Hardy du Seuil and 6 others at Carlisle (17f, soft) in December. Hasn't done much wrong in handicaps at Cheltenham and Doncaster since but it could be that he's now a shade too high in the weights.
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Confirmed the promise of his reappearance when winning a competitive 2m handicap at Cheltenham in November. Another good effort at Prestbury Park when runner-up the following month and latest sixth of 14 in a valuable Windsor contest was creditable, too. Couldn't rule out.
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Did well last term, the highlight being a narrow success in this race off 2 lb higher 12 months ago. Encouraging reappearance when fifth to Lump Sum in the Welsh Champion Hurdle in October and, though well held on his next 3 starts, he shaped as though coming back to the boil at Newbury last month.
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Did little wrong last season and has acquitted himself well all 3 starts since returning to action in December, finishing third to Constitution Hill in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.8f, soft) last time. Solid each-way chance back in handicap company.
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Made good strides forward last season, typically proving strong at the finish to land a big-field handicap over 16.8f at Cheltenham in April. Has shaped well on a couple of occasions during present campaign but this demands a clear career-best.
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Winner of the Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh last term and returned to form when runner-up in this season's renewal of that handicap. Remains on an attractive mark and of strong interest for top yard, which has saddled the winner of this twice during the last 5 years.
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Likeable front-runner who put an end to a frustrating run of seconds when the dominant winner of what had looked a competitive contest at Ascot (2m, good to soft) in December. By no means disgraced in a major Newbury handicap last time but more will be needed if he's to emerge on top here.
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Took advantage of a drop in class at Plumpton (2m, soft) in October but he has struggled since, both in this sphere and over fences, and others make more appeal.
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Progressive hurdler who landed good-ground novices at Exeter and Wincanton on successive days in November. Runner-up next 2 starts but safely held when third off a similar mark at Newbury last weekend and yard saddles a more appealing candidate in Afadil.
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Bumper winner last term and, save for a poor handicap debut display at Ascot in December, he hasn't done much wrong since switched to hurdles, landing novice events at Carlisle and Warwick either side of that Ascot debacle. However, this demands a significant step forward.
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Free-going sort who showed plenty of ability in bumpers last term and similar story in finishing runner-up all 4 starts in maiden/novice hurdles this winter. On the downside, it was disappointing that he failed to land the odds at Bangor last time and faces an uphill task on this handicap debut.
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Forecasts
Bo Zenith (5/1), Go Dante (6/1), Wreckless Eric (7/1), Afadil (8/1), Ooh Betty (8/1), Lump Sum (8/1), Spirits Bay (11/1), Knickerbockerglory (16/1), Sorceleur (16/1), Tintintin (18/1), To Chase A Dream (18/1), Hardy Du Seuil (18/1), Batman Girac (22/1), King William Rufus (25/1), We're Red And Blue (28/1), Big Ginge (28/1), Tapley (66/1)
The answer to this pre-Cheltenham Festival puzzle could be AFADIL, who is 8 lb lower compared to when finishing fifth in the County Hurdle at last season's Festival and he arrives here on the back of a solid effort in the Scottish equivalent of that valuable handicap at Musselburgh. Go Dante is also on a good mark (now 2 lb lower than when winning this 12 months ago) and he is feared most ahead of Spirits Bay, while cases can also be made for the likes of Batman Girac, Bo Zenith and Lump Sum.
- Afadil8/1
- Go Dante6/1
- Spirits Bay11/1
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £51,440.002nd: £23,650.003rd: £11,830.004th: £5,910.005th: £2,960.006th: £1,470.007th: £740.008th: £370.00
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