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 victories in the last 2 editions of the prominent handicap, which is the standard highlight the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival gets under way.
are using a ₤ 100,000 perk to the connections of the winner ought to the very same horse go on to win any race at Cheltenham next week, however Go Dante does not hold any Festival engagements, with Murphy concentrating on Saturday's prize for a horse who is three from three at Sandown but has disappointed on his last couple of trips at Windsor and Newbury.
"He's a few pounds greater than in 2015, however he enjoys the track and ideally with a bit of luck in running he'll run well again," stated the Warren Chase handler.
"In his last number of runs they've gone extremely, very 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 third time. We know he loves the location and we're looking forward to running him."
Go Dante in winning action at Sandown (John Walton/PA)
Murphy will have a 2nd string to his bow in the type of Fingle Bridge, who reverted to the smaller sized obstacles to complete 2nd at Warwick last month following 3 runs over fences.
Murphy added: "He's going to run too. He did too much at Warwick the last day, so we're dropping back in trip on a stiff track.
"He's definitely great horse with a huge engine and ideally a run in a handicap the last day will have sharpened him up once again. He should go there with an opportunity."
Fingle Bridge is the joint top-rated horse together with the Dan Skelton-trained Knickerbockerglory in a 30-strong list of entries.
Other contenders include Ben Clarke's classy mare Ooh Betty, the JP McManus-owned Khrisma from Nicky Henderson's backyard, Chris Gordon's General Briar and Mondo Man, trained by the father-and-son partnership of Gary and Josh Moore.
Olly Murphy might likewise 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 three 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 think the track and journey and whatever will suit him well.
"He's in actually great form, came out of Windsor well and hopefully he's enhancing.
"We 'd welcome a bit more rain for Gee Force Flyer but the stiff track will fit him well, he's feasibly disabled and this race has been the prepare for a long period of time with him."