Go Dante Aiming For Record Third Imperial Cup Success
Go Dante will bid for a slice of history at Sandown on Saturday by ending up being the first three-time winner of the Betfair Imperial Cup.
Olly Murphy's veteran has declared narrow triumphes in the last 2 editions of the prominent handicap, which is the standard highlight the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival gets under way.
Betfair are offering a ₤ 100,000 bonus offer to the connections of the winner need to 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 reward for a horse who is 3 from 3 at Sandown however has disappointed on his last couple of getaways at Windsor and Newbury.
"He's a couple of pounds higher than in 2015, however he enjoys the track and ideally with a little bit of luck in running he'll run well once again," said 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 going back to a stiffer track will suit.
"It would be good to win for a third time. We know he loves the place 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 went back to the smaller obstacles to finish second at Warwick last month following 3 runs over fences.
Murphy included: "He's going to run also. He did too much at Warwick the last day, so we're dropping back in trip on a stiff track.
"He's certainly great horse with a huge engine and hopefully a run in a handicap the last day will have honed him up again. He should go there with a possibility."
Fingle Bridge is the joint top-rated horse along with the Dan in a 30-strong list of entries.
Other contenders consist of Ben Clarke's high-class mare Ooh Betty, the JP McManus-owned Khrisma from Nicky Henderson's yard, 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 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 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 everything will suit him well.
"He remains in actually excellent form, came out of Windsor well and hopefully he's enhancing.
"We 'd welcome a bit more rain for Gee Force Flyer however the stiff track will fit him well, he's probably handicapped and this race has been the plan for a very long time with him."