Go Dante Aiming For Record Third Imperial Cup Success
Go Dante will bid for a piece of history at Sandown on Saturday by ending up being the very first three-time winner of the Imperial Cup.
Olly Murphy's veteran has actually declared narrow success in the last 2 editions of the distinguished handicap, which is the standard emphasize the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival gets under way.
Betfair are providing a ₤ 100,000 bonus to the connections of the winner should the same horse go on to win any race at Cheltenham next week, however Go Dante does not hold any Festival engagements, with Murphy focusing on Saturday's prize for a horse who is three from three at Sandown but has dissatisfied on his last couple of outings at Windsor and Newbury.
"He's a few pounds greater than in 2015, however he loves the track and hopefully with a bit of luck in running he'll run well once again," said the Warren Chase handler.
"In his last number of runs they have actually gone really, really quick early on flat tracks and it hasn't matched him, so hopefully going back to a stiffer track will fit.
"It would be great to win for a third time. We understand he loves 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 form of Fingle Bridge, who reverted to the smaller challenges to finish second at Warwick last month following three runs over fences.
Murphy included: "He's going to run as well. He did too much at Warwick the last day, so we're hanging back in journey on a stiff track.
"He's definitely excellent horse with a huge engine and hopefully a run in a handicap the last day will have sharpened him up once again. He needs to 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 elite 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 collaboration of Gary and Josh Moore.
Olly Murphy might also run 2 in the ₤ 80,000 European Breeders' Fund Betfair "National Hunt" Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final, with the respected Scorpio Rising set to be signed up with by stablemate Gee Force Flyer.
Scorpio Rising appears his biggest hope having 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 stated: "Scorpio Rising looks progressive and I believe the track and journey and whatever will suit him well.
"He remains in really good kind, came out of Windsor well and hopefully he's improving.
"We 'd invite a bit more rain for Gee Force Flyer but the stiff track will fit him well, he's feasibly handicapped and this race has actually been the prepare for a very long time with him."