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 very 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 conventional highlight the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival gets under way.


Betfair are using a ₤ 100,000 bonus offer to the connections of the winner ought to the exact 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 three from 3 at Sandown but has actually dissatisfied on his last number of trips at Windsor and Newbury.


"He's a couple of pounds higher than in 2015, but he likes the track and ideally with a bit of luck in running he'll run well again," said the Warren Chase handler.


"In his last couple of runs they have actually gone really, extremely fast early on flat tracks and it hasn't fit him, so hopefully going back to a stiffer track will fit.


"It would be good to win for a 3rd time. We understand he likes the location and we're looking forward to running him."


Go Dante in winning action at Sandown (John Walton/PA)


Murphy will have a 2nd string to his bow in the type of Fingle Bridge, who went back to the smaller barriers 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 dropping back in journey on a stiff track.


"He's definitely good horse with a huge engine and hopefully a run in a handicap the last day will have honed him up again. He ought to go there with an opportunity."


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


Other competitors consist of Ben Clarke's elite mare Ooh Betty, the JP McManus-owned Khrisma from Nicky Henderson's lawn, Chris Gordon's General Briar and Mondo Man, trained by the father-and-son collaboration of Gary and Josh Moore.


Olly Murphy might 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 believe the track and trip and everything will suit him well.


"He remains in truly excellent kind, came out of Windsor well and ideally he's improving.


"We 'd invite 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 prepare for a very long time with him."