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 very first three-time winner of the Betfair Imperial Cup.
Olly Murphy's veteran has declared narrow success in the last 2 editions of the prestigious handicap, which is the conventional highlight the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival gets under way.
Betfair are providing a ₤ 100,000 bonus to the connections of the winner need to 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 but has dissatisfied on his last number of getaways at Windsor and Newbury.
"He's a couple of pounds higher than in 2015, but he loves the track and hopefully with a bit of luck in running he'll run well again," stated the Warren Chase handler.
"In his last couple of runs they have actually gone very, very quick early on flat tracks and it hasn't matched him, so ideally returning to a stiffer track will match.
"It would be nice to win for a 3rd time. We understand he enjoys the location and we're eagerly 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 went back to the smaller barriers to complete 2nd at Warwick last month following three runs over fences.
Murphy added: "He's going to run also. He did excessive at Warwick the last day, so we're dropping back in journey on a stiff track.
"He's definitely great horse with a big engine and hopefully a run in a handicap the last day will have honed him up again. He should go there with a chance."
Fingle Bridge is the joint premier horse along with the Dan Skelton-trained Knickerbockerglory in a 30-strong list of entries.
Other competitors include Ben Clarke's high-class 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 could 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 his most significant 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 think the track and journey and whatever will fit him well.
"He's in truly excellent type, came out of Windsor well and ideally he's enhancing.
"We 'd welcome a bit more rain for Gee Force Flyer however the stiff track will fit him well, he's feasibly disabled and this race has actually been the prepare for a long period of time with him."