Go Dante Aiming For Record Third Imperial Cup Success
Go Dante will bid for a piece of history at Sandown on Saturday by becoming the first three-time winner of the Betfair Imperial Cup.
Olly Murphy's veteran has actually claimed narrow triumphes in the last 2 editions of the distinguished handicap, which is the conventional emphasize the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival gets under method.
Betfair are offering a ₤ 100,000 bonus offer to the of the winner must the same horse go on to win any race at Cheltenham next week, but Go Dante does not hold any Festival engagements, with Murphy concentrating on Saturday's prize for a horse who is three from 3 at Sandown however has dissatisfied on his last number of trips at Windsor and Newbury.
"He's a few pounds greater than in 2015, however he loves the track and ideally with a little luck in running he'll run well again," said the Warren Chase handler.
"In his last number of runs they have actually gone extremely, really quick early on flat tracks and it hasn't fit him, so hopefully returning to a stiffer track will suit.
"It would be nice to win for a 3rd time. We know he enjoys the location and we're anticipating running him."
Go Dante in winning action at Sandown (John Walton/PA)
Murphy will have a second string to his bow in the type of Fingle Bridge, who reverted to the smaller barriers to finish 2nd at Warwick last month following 3 runs over fences.
Murphy added: "He's going to run as well. He did excessive at Warwick the last day, so we're hanging back in trip on a stiff track.
"He's certainly excellent horse with a big engine and hopefully a run in a handicap the last day will have sharpened him up once again. He should go there with a chance."
Fingle Bridge is the joint top-rated horse along with the Dan Skelton-trained Knickerbockerglory in a 30-strong list of entries.
Other competitors consist of Ben Clarke's high-class mare Ooh Betty, the JP McManus-owned Khrisma from Nicky Henderson's lawn, Chris Gordon's General Briar and Mondo Man, trained by the father-and-son partnership of Gary and Josh Moore.
Olly Murphy might also run two in the ₤ 80,000 European Breeders' Fund Betfair "National Hunt" Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final, with the respected Scorpio Rising set to be joined by stablemate Gee Force Flyer.
Scorpio Rising appears his greatest hope having actually won his last 3 races, with Masked Man (Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies), Gentleman Toboot (David Pipe) and Kaka's Cousin (Jonjo and AJ O'Neill) others in the mix for a fiercely-competitive heat.
Murphy said: "Scorpio Rising looks progressive and I believe the track and journey and everything will suit him well.
"He remains in actually great form, came out of Windsor well and hopefully he's improving.
"We 'd invite a bit more rain for Gee Force Flyer however the stiff track will fit him well, he's feasibly handicapped and this race has been the prepare for a very long time with him."