Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race).
Sandown · Saturday, 7 Mar · 18:27
· 1m 7f 216y
· Class 2
· TURF
WEIGHEDIN
Status
14:27
Off time
18
Runners
Soft (Good to Soft in places)
Going
🎯 Tipster's 1·2·3
Sporting Life pick
Betting forecast
Market prediction · 23 runners · sorted by price
01 · 🏆 FAV
3.50
5/2
02 · 🥈 2nd
6.50
11/2
03 · 🥉 3rd
8
7/1
04 · —
9
8/1
05 · —
12
11/1
06 · —
12
11/1
07 · —
13
12/1
08 · —
13
12/1
09 · —
15
14/1
10 · —
15
14/1
11 · —
17
16/1
12 · —
19
18/1
13 · —
21
20/1
14 · —
26
25/1
15 · —
26
25/1
16 · —
29
28/1
17 · —
34
33/1
18 · —
34
33/1
19 · —
51
50/1
20 · —
51
50/1
21 · —
51
50/1
22 · —
51
50/1
23 · —
51
50/1
Sporting Life forecast prices — published the night before the race. Top 3 highlighted as market favourites.
Runners
| Pos | No. | Dr | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wgt | Best decimal odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | 1 | — |
Fingle Bridge (G)
Went 3-3 over hurdles last season, including a listed novice. Best of the rest behind Lulamba on Exeter chase debut/reappearance and came home alone at Uttoxeter next time. Held back by jumping at Ayr but lot to like about strong-travellin…
|
G Sheehan | O Murphy | 8 | 76.2 kg |
12
11/1
|
| — | 2 | — |
Knickerbockerglory (G)
NON RUNNER.
|
Non Runner | D Skelton | 10 | 76.2 kg |
17
16/1
|
| — | 3 | — |
Gibbs Island (G)
[H]
Victor Ludorum winner at Haydock last winter and returned to make a successful start to his handicap hurdle career at Chepstow (2m, good to firm) in October. Three lesser efforts have followed, though and this isn't an easy race to bounce …
|
Stan Sheppard | T Lacey | 5 | 73.9 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 7th | 4 | — |
Go Dante (G)
[TP]
Has won the last 2 renewals of this, latterly from 5 lb lower a year ago. Enhanced his excellent record at this venue with another victory in December and while a couple of heavy defeats have followed, it would come as no surprise were he …
|
S Bowen | O Murphy | 10 | 73 kg |
13
12/1
|
| — | 5 | — |
Ooh Betty (M)
[T]
Likeable mare who has been a credit to connections, showing a really willing attitude when landing valuable Grade 2 at Ascot in January. Down the field in this race a year ago from the same mark and career best needed to land this.
|
Ben Jones | Ben Clarke | 8 | 73 kg |
21
20/1
|
| — | 6 | — |
Top Jimmy (G)
On the up since joining current yard, landing a pair of novice hurdles at Uttoxeter in October and continued theme of race-by-race progress over obstacles when runner-up at Windsor (20f) in January. Drop back to 2m (albeit likely to be a w…
|
Sam Twiston-Davies | N & W Twiston-Davies | 6 | 71.2 kg |
8
7/1
|
| 8th | 7 | — |
Rubber Ball (G)
Marked drop back in trip seemed to help a lot and he got his career back on track in no uncertain terms when landing 7-runner handicap at Newbury a week ago. Up 8 lb in a better race but he's lightly raced and represents an in-form yard.
|
J M Quinlan | N B King | 6 | 71.2 kg |
6.50
11/2
|
| — | 8 | — |
Bubble Dubi (G)
Strong traveller who posted a useful effort to make light of a long absence in 17f Aintree handicap in November. That was an unconventional race and he seemed anchored by a 9 lb rise at Newbury last month.
|
Charlie Hammond | S Edmunds | 9 | 71.2 kg |
51
50/1
|
| 4th | 9 | — |
Messerschmitt (G)
Juvenile hurdle winner who shaped very well on second handicap start when third in a big-field contest at Galway in August. Excellent second on the level later that month but subsequent hurdles efforts during the autumn were ordinary at be…
|
Danny McMenamin | N Meade | 5 | 70.8 kg |
51
50/1
|
| — | 10 | — |
Nardaran (G)
[TP]
€135,000 purchase who resumed progress following wind surgery this season, scoring at Plumpton and over this C&D during the autumn. Hasn't been plain sailing since but fifth-place finish in high-profile AW novice a fortnight ago should hav…
|
H Cobden | P F Nicholls | 5 | 70.3 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 11th | 11 | — |
Gooloogong (G)
Fairly useful Flat performer at best. Opened his account in this sphere when winning Fontwell novice (17.7f, good) in November 2024. In good heart in staying handicaps on the AW last spring and no fluke about 50/1 rout on last month's retu…
|
Tom Cannon | George Baker | 6 | 69.4 kg |
29
28/1
|
| 6th | 12 | — |
Spirits Bay (G)
Returned with success over hurdles at Newton Abbot (2m) in October and posted a good fourth of 10 on just his second chasing run in 2m3f Exeter handicap in January. Better was expected returned to timber/2m at Taunton but he was disappoint…
|
N de Boinville | N & W Twiston-Davies | 8 | 69.4 kg |
51
50/1
|
| 9th | 13 | — |
Jack Hyde (G)
[T]
Landed the odds in 2m Newton Abbot novice in September and has advanced his form since, tongue tie refitted when a very good second in handicaps at Cheltenham in November and Taunton last month. Better than result too in latter race and he…
|
Tom Broughton | F O'Brien | 8 | 69.4 kg |
9
8/1
|
| 2nd | 14 | — |
Wreckless Eric (G)
[P1]
Won strong novice handicap at Cheltenham and ran another cracker when narrowly denied by Go Dante in this a year ago. Hasn't hit the same heights in 3 outings this term but yard going a bit better now and he's 3 lb lower with this ground m…
|
Kielan Woods | J & A O'Neill | 6 | 69.4 kg |
12
11/1
|
| — | 15 | — |
Mr Mcloughlan (G)
Won back-to-back novice/maiden hurdles earlier this season before finding Grade 2 company too hot at Cheltenham. Back on track to resume winning ways on handicap debut at Huntingdon in November. Fit from warm AW novice but needs to raise h…
|
Lorcan Williams | Jack Jones | 6 | 68.9 kg |
51
50/1
|
| 13th | 16 | — |
No Ordinary Joe (G)
[TP]
Useful on his day for Nicky Henderson but winless since 2022. Few obvious positives to take from his first 6 outings for new connections but fitted with cheekpieces he offered a lot more when fifth at Ascot last month. Dangerous if buildin…
|
Benjamin Macey | Faye Bramley | 10 | 68.9 kg |
15
14/1
|
| 1st | 17 | — |
Mondo Man (G)
FAV
Smart on the Flat in France (purchased for €520,000 last October) and very well treated on that level over hurdles. Well backed when only fourth at Ascot in December (race not run to suit) but has since landed the odds at Plumpton and look…
|
Caoilin Quinn | G & J Moore | 5 | 68.9 kg |
3.50
5/2
|
| 3rd | 18 | — |
We're Red And Blue (G)
Free-going sort early in his career but looked more professional when gaining handicap breakthrough at Huntingdon in December. Ran at least as well when second at Kempton a month later and he seems likely to give it another good go.
|
Jonjo O'Neill Jr. | J & A O'Neill | 6 | 68.9 kg |
13
12/1
|
| — | 19 | — |
Star Of Guiting (G)
Dual juvenile winner for Nigel Twiston-Davies last season and his strong-travelling style proved well suited to Musselburgh this winter, winning back-to-back handicaps. Value for extra last time, so his limit has not yet been reached.
|
Craig Nichol | Ewan Whillans | 5 | 68.5 kg |
26
25/1
|
| 12th | 20 | — |
Game Colours (M)
[T]
Gained reward for her consistency when landing the odds in 4-runner heavy-ground handicap at Exeter 15 days ago, forging clear. Likeable type but far deeper race and 3 lb rise may anchor her.
|
Rex Dingle | Ben Clarke | 8 | 68.5 kg |
51
50/1
|
| 5th | 21 | — |
Afadil (G)
Another good Musselburgh effort when second again to reopposing Star of Guiting a month ago. Third in this race from 1 lb higher a year ago so a bold bid could be forthcoming.
|
Freddie Keighley | P F Nicholls | 7 | 68 kg |
19
18/1
|
| — | 22 | — |
General Briar (G)
Very strong at the line back at 2m when opening his account at Plumpton in December and improved again when following up in a Newbury handicap a month later. Jumping and attitude both look assets so much depends on how he copes with the hu…
|
Freddie Gordon | C Gordon | 7 | 68 kg |
26
25/1
|
| 10th | 23 | — |
Brace For Landing (G)
[P]
Made the frame both starts in France and easily best effort for this yard with cheekpieces on when fifth over C&D in January. In top hands and not yet exposed and interesting back in this big-field environment having snuck in as first rese…
|
Harry Skelton | D Skelton | 5 | 66.7 kg |
15
14/1
|
Betting forecast: Mondo Man (5/2), Rubber Ball (11/2), Top Jimmy (7/1), Jack Hyde (8/1), Wreckless Eric (11/1), Fingle Bridge (11/1), We're Red And Blue (12/1), Go Dante (12/1), Brace For Landing (14/1), No Ordinary Joe (14/1), Knickerbockerglory (16/1), Afadil (18/1), Ooh Betty (20/1), Star Of Guiting (25/1), General Briar (25/1), Gooloogong (28/1), Gibbs Island (33/1), Nardaran (33/1), Messerschmitt (50/1), Spirits Bay (50/1), Game Colours (50/1), Mr Mcloughlan (50/1), Bubble Dubi (50/1)
Prize money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| P1 | 51440.0 GBP |
| P2 | 23650.0 GBP |
| P3 | 11830.0 GBP |
| P4 | 5910.0 GBP |
| P5 | 2960.0 GBP |
| P6 | 1470.0 GBP |
| P7 | 740.0 GBP |
| P8 | 370.0 GBP |