Go Dante aiming for record third Imperial Cup success

Go Dante will bid for a slice of history at Sandown on Saturday by becoming the first three-time winner of the Betfair Imperial Cup.

Olly Murphy’s veteran has claimed narrow victories in the last two editions of the prestigious handicap, which is the traditional highlight the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival gets under way.

Betfair are offering a £100,000 bonus to the connections of the winner should 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 three at Sandown but has disappointed on his last couple of outings at Windsor and Newbury.

“He’s a few pounds higher than last year, but he loves the track and hopefully with a bit of luck in running he’ll run well again,” said the Warren Chase handler.

“In his last couple of runs they’ve gone very, very quick early on flat tracks and it hasn’t suited him, so hopefully going back to a stiffer track will suit.

“It would be nice to win for a third time. We know he loves the place and we’re looking forward to running him.”

Murphy will have a second string to his bow in the form of Fingle Bridge, who reverted to the smaller obstacles to finish second at Warwick last month following three runs over fences.

Murphy added: “He’s going to run as well. He did too much at Warwick the last day, so we’re dropping back in trip on a stiff track.

“He’s certainly good horse with a big engine and hopefully a run in a handicap the last day will have sharpened him up again. He should go there with a chance.”

Fingle Bridge is the joint top-rated horse alongside the Dan Skelton-trained Knickerbockerglory in a 30-strong list of entries.

Other contenders include 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 could also run two in the £80,000 European Breeders’ Fund Betfair “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final, with the prolific Scorpio Rising set to be joined by stablemate Gee Force Flyer.

Scorpio Rising appears his biggest hope having 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 trip and everything will suit him well.

“He’s in really good form, came out of Windsor well and hopefully he’s improving.

“We’d welcome a bit more rain for Gee Force Flyer but the stiff track will suit him well, he’s feasibly handicapped and this race has been the plan for a long time with him.”