Sandown Imperial Cup Day Betting Tips
The Cheltenham Festival will soon be upon us but Sandown’s Premier meeting on Saturday should be well worth a watch and the £100,000 Imperial Cup is the race of the day.
A field of 17 has been declared for the big race and it’s well supported by the European Breeders' Fund 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final, as well as a Listed mares’ bumper.
There are seven races in total and here we take a look at our strongest fancies in each, including a Dan Skelton-trained runner in the big one.
13:15 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m)
LUCKY BERE is yet to win in three starts over hurdles but that could be set to change sooner rather than later. Kayley Woollacott’s four-year-old wasn’t beaten far when third behind Aviemore at Warwick last month and that horse bolted up under a penalty recently. Handicaps could well suit and 110 is a nice opening mark.
Selection: Lucky Bere
13:50 National Hunt Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (2m4f)
There are any number of interesting candidates for this race but Paul Nicholls’ BELLIANO tops the list for us. Two from three over hurdles, he won nicely under a penalty at Market Rasen last month and an opening mark of 125 looks very workable upon switching to handicaps. A strong gallop will definitely suit this horse, who possesses plenty of stamina.
Selection: Belliano
14:25 Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (2m)
Whilst not the best handicapped horse in the race, there’s every chance that KNICKERBOCKERGLORY will be in the mix once again. Dan Skelton’s nine-year-old got the better Nemean Lion in a fair race over course and distance on seasonal debut and the runner-up has boosted the form by winning a Grade 2 since.
Selection: Knickerbockerglory
15:00 Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed, 2m)
Alan King’s CHARISMA CAT looked very smart when winning well on debut at Southwell and confirmed that with an even more impressive display under a penalty at Warwick. She did very little wrong when beaten by a neck in Listed company at Market Rasen last time and she can go one better here.
Selection: Charisma Cat
15:35 Handicap Chase (3m)
DREAMING BLUE ran a nice race to finish second to a gamble horse in a better race over course and distance last month and looks well set to go one better, provided he jumps a little straighter this time around. His win at Ludlow earlier this season (3m1½f) tells us he stays well and a return to winning ways could be on the agenda.
Selection: Dreaming Blue
16:10 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2m4f)
It’s a rare occasion when a Paul Nicholls runner doesn’t improve over fences and DON’T TELL SU is set to make his first start over the larger obstacles here. The form of his second here in a handicap hurdle on seasonal debut has worked out particularly well and although he’s winless so far this season, this looks like a good opportunity to rectify that.
Selection: Don’t Tell Su
16:45 Handicap Chase (2m4f)
THEFORMISMIGHTY bolted up at Southwell in December and a few subsequent winners have come out of that race. Dan Skelton’s gelding was below-par next time but it was much more like it when second by a head at Wetherby recently. The front two were well clear of the rest that day and a similar effort could be enough to get the job done.
Selection: Theformismighty
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation