Go Dante Aiming For Record Third Imperial Cup Success

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


Olly Murphy's veteran has actually claimed narrow victories 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 must 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 however has disappointed on his last couple of trips at Windsor and Newbury.


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


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


"It would be great to win for a 3rd time. We understand he likes 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 type of Fingle Bridge, who went back to the smaller sized challenges to complete second at Warwick last month following 3 runs over fences.


Murphy included: "He's going to run too. He did excessive at Warwick the last day, so we're hanging back in journey on a stiff track.


"He's definitely excellent horse with a big engine and hopefully a run in a handicap the last day will have sharpened him up once again. He ought to go there with a chance."


Fingle Bridge is the joint top-rated horse together with 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 partnership of Gary and Josh Moore.


Olly Murphy could likewise 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 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 stated: "Scorpio Rising looks progressive and I think the track and trip and whatever will suit him well.


"He's in truly good 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 match him well, he's feasibly handicapped and this race has actually been the prepare for a long time with him."