Sandown's 2025 Imperial Cup

It's a spirited soul who saunters into the surreal world of slots.

Back in October 2020 Mrs Corrine Durber thought she had won a 'monster jackpot' totalling £1,097,132.71 on a Paddy Power slot described as 'a combination of a fruit machine and a wheel-of-fortune style game'.

Claiming a mapping error, Paddy Power only paid out the daily jackpot of £20,265.15 so Mrs Durber decided to sue PPB Entertainment. 

Earlier this week, four and a half years later, Mr Justice Ritchie ruled in her favour.

Mrs Durber said:

"I will never bet with them ever again."

At one point in court, Philip Hinks, counsel for PPB Entertainment, said what was shown on a customer's screen was irrelevant 'wallpaper'.

In the past, when I've tried using a similar line with my bank, I've been given extremely short shrift...   

Anyway, enough; take a look at this Tom Segal quotation from this week's RP Weekender:

"...it's just that on most Saturdays there are better betting opportunities for a value-based approach than there are throughout the whole of the Cheltenham Festival." 

With comments like that I thought I'd take the hint, have a stab at tomorrow's Imperial Cup (2.25 Sandown), and, in the process, generate my own irrelevant wallpaper. 

17 have been declared; the going on the hurdles track is currently described as good to soft, good in places.

This year there's a bonus on offer - the first time since 2021: £100,000 to the winner of this who goes on to win any race at Cheltenham next week. 

The following horses hold Festival entries: Afadil (County); Batman Girac (County); Bo Zenith (Coral Cup / Martin Pipe); Go Dante (County); Knickerbockerglory (County); Lump Sum (County); Ooh Betty (County); Spirits Bay (Coral Cup); Tapley (Jack Richards / Martin Pipe); and We're Red And Blue (County).

Lump Sum takes his chance with the result that the handicap has a lop-sided look to it; just four in the field carry more than 11-00 and only six are rated above the lowest rated winner of the past ten years - London Prize won off 128 in 2017.

Two potentially well-handicapped runners are Go Dante and Afadil.

Go Dante pipped Faivoir a nose to win last year's renewal off a mark of 129 and goes off 127 tomorrow.

Needless to say, Olly Murphy's charge hasn't been in such good form this term but his seventh place behind facile winner Joyeuse in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury four weeks ago (Lump Sum second, King William Rufus sixth) hinted at a possible return to form. Since 2000 only one nine-year-old has come home in front - Scorned in 2004. 

Afadil won the 2024 running of the Scottish County Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh off a mark of 124, and then, racing off a mark of 130 next time, finished fifth in the corresponding race at the Cheltenham Festival, under five lengths behind Absurde.

Last time out he was beaten a length by Welsh Charger in this year's Scottish County Hurdle and has been raised two pounds for that effort - to 122.

At the time of writing Bo Zenith heads the market; this one has had two outings since moving from Gary Moore's yard in October and both represent pertinent pieces of form.

On seasonal debut he finished third behind Mirabad in the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (Wreckless Eric second, To Chase A Dream fourth, Spirits Bay fifth and Tintintin sixth).  

Next time he appeared outpaced on better ground over and extended two miles three when fifth behind Altobelli at Ascot.

Wreckless Eric has made good progress since moving from Ben Pauling's yard in the autumn; he will appreciate drying ground but stable form is still something of a concern.

Having won over an extended two miles three at Doncaster, To Chase A Dream is likely to appreciate Sandown's stiff finish.

Last time out Spirits Bay finished third behind Constitution Hill in the International Hurdle and has been well supported in the market.

Despite his price Tintintin brings respectable form to the table - third behind runaway winner Pickanumber in the Swinton last May (Tapley second, Afadil eleventh) and fourth behind Burdett Road in the Greatwood (Go Dante ninth).

Bought for 150,000 euros, Batman Girac  has yet to win a race for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede; last time the gelding was three lengths down and staying on when falling at the final flight in a Listed handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Course and distance winner Knickerbockerglory beat Nemean Lion eight lengths on seasonal debut - that reads well - and finished third behind Secret Squirrel on soft ground at Windsor seven weeks ago (Hardy Du Seuil fifth, Wreckless Eric sixth, Go Dante eleventh). 

Ooh Betty also boasts course and distance winning form and ran well in a Grade 2 Mares' Hurdle on good ground at Ascot last time, leading off the home turn but losing two places on the run-in, eventually finishing third behind Take No Chances and Kargese.

On his blog Paul Nicholls reports Sorceleur 'took a blow before keeping on to finish third' behind Jurancon at Newbury last week. There has been some market support this evening.

That one races from one pound out of the handicap, as does We're Red And Blue, stablemate of Wreckless Eric, while Big Ginge goes from five pounds out of the handicap and remains a maiden.

Hardy Du Seuil ran well for Will Featherstone when fifth behind Secret Squirrel at Windsor - the pair were beaten just three lengths - and the partnership is renewed tomorrow. Drying ground looks a negative for this one.

Tapley has mixed hurdling and chasing this term. His second in the Swinton looks good; prior to that he had finished fourth behind Tintintin in a conditional and amateur riders' race at Cheltenham. 

In a race that often goes the way of a five or six-year old, I'm going for one that will appreciate the better ground. 

King William Rufus ran well on soft ground in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury last month, eventually finishing sixth. Handler Chris Gordon said about his charge in the RP Weekender [26.02-02.03.25]:

"The ground wouldn't have been in his favour in the William Hill Hurdle last time. He seems to prefer better ground, but he still ran an absolute blinder to finish sixth. I think if he'd jumped the second-last better, he'd have probably finished fourth, which would have meant a bit more prize-money. I was pleased with the way he ran and I might look at the Imperial Cup if the ground dries up."

The yard haven't had a winner for 25 days; I'm hoping King William Rufus will give me a run for my money.

King William Rufus is the each-way selection, 16/1 generally at the time of writing but William Hill offer 18/1 and pay five places. 

Sandown's Imperial Cup 2018

In a classic 'Father Ted' moment earlier today I inadvertently found myself stranded and bewildered in the lingerie department of Debenhams - I have absolutely no idea how I arrived there - wondering whether Summerville Boy could possibly confirm Tolworth running with Kalashnikov in the Supreme on Tuesday.

Fortunately, I know how to read the signs - I need a break from all that Cheltenham form study.

So, here's a view on the Imperial Cup, not run anywhere near Cheltenham at all but at Sandown, tomorrow, at 2.25, where the going is currently described as soft.

Seventeen have been declared. Nicky Henderson's course and distance winner Call Me Lord takes his chance, carries top weight and concedes a minimum of twelve pounds to all his opponents; stablemate Whatwrongwithyou heads the market at around 4/1.

Magic Combination won the 2000 renewal at the age of seven; since then there have been only three winners older than six: Scorned (9) in 2004; Alarazi (7) in 2011 and First Avenue (8) in 2013. Seven in this year's field are aged seven or older while Shanroe Saint races from three pounds out of the handicap.

Two have caught my eye.

At the time of writing both Ladbrokes and Coral go 16/1 about Alan King's Fidux and pay a quarter the odds four places; that looks fair value.

In November Fidux was unlucky to be brought down by a swinging hurdle at the last flight when one length behind Maria's Benefit, a 6/1 chance for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.

He was subsequently beaten under five lengths over this course and distance by A Hare Breadth (holds an entry the County Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday).

The handler doesn't appear particularly bullish in the Weekender:

"I hope the ground doesn't get too bad and he seems in good order, fresh and well and not held up at all by the weather [unlike stablemate Scarlet Dragon who holds an entry in the Supreme].

"He's possibly at little high in the handicap this season but I'd love to see him back on better ground - although I don't think that will be this weekend!"

Clearly conditions aren't ideal but some may feel that is factored into the price.

Earlier in the afternoon my preference was for Master Of Irony; unfortunately it looks as though a number of others have had a similar idea. 14/1 has disappeared completely; at the time of writing Paddy Power and Betfred are amongst the layers offering 11/1 one fifth the odds five places.

Fourth behind High Bridge in the Gerry Feilden reads well; this evening the Racing Post quotes trainer John Quinn:

"He hasn't been out since that good run at Newbury in December but he'd have run at the big festival at Leopardstown but for travelling badly. He'll be fine here, as that was ferry problems, and I think he has a chance. If he were to win and come out the other end okay he's one who could run again next week, as he's had a light season."

The horse holds entries in the County Hurdle and Martin Pipe Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.

Master Of Irony is the Imperial Cup each-way selection (11/1 with Paddy Power / Betfred, one fifth the odds five places.)

And somehow it all comes back to Cheltenham. It really is very difficult to stop thinking about Cheltenham at this time of the year...

For the first time we will benefit from 48-hour declarations. In accordance with tradition, I'll be at the track on Wednesday and will post a blog for each day of the Festival.

Less than four days to go now...