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 actually declared narrow success in the last 2 editions of the prominent handicap, which is the standard emphasize the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival gets under method.
Betfair are using a ₤ 100,000 bonus to the connections of the winner ought to the exact same horse go on to win any race at Cheltenham next week, but 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 but has disappointed on his last couple of outings at Windsor and Newbury.
"He's a few pounds greater than last year, but he loves the track and hopefully with a little bit of luck in running he'll run well once again," said the Warren Chase handler.
"In his last number of runs they've gone really, extremely quick early on flat tracks and it hasn't fit him, so hopefully returning to a stiffer track will match.
"It would be great to win for a third time. We understand he enjoys 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 went back to the smaller obstacles to finish 2nd at Warwick last month following three runs over fences.
Murphy included: "He's going to run as well. He did excessive at Warwick the last day, so we're hanging back in trip on a stiff track.
"He's definitely excellent horse with a huge engine and ideally a run in a handicap the last day will have sharpened him up once again. He should go there with a possibility."
Fingle Bridge is the joint premier horse alongside the Dan Skelton-trained Knickerbockerglory in a 30-strong list of entries.
Other competitors consist of Ben Clarke's classy 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 respected Scorpio Rising set to be joined by stablemate Gee Force Flyer.
Scorpio Rising his most significant 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 believe the track and journey and everything will suit him well.
"He remains in really good form, 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 probably handicapped and this race has been the strategy for a long period of time with him."