Timeform Weekend Preview: Imperial Cup the highlight

Weekend Preview/Review
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Timeform /
11 March 2011 /
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Sandown hosts the valuable Imperial Cup on Saturday

“The pick of the weekend’s action is the prestigious Imperial Cup and with the possibility of a £75,000 bonus, should the winner follow up at Cheltenham, Festival backers shall be watching closely.”

As the Cheltenham Festival looms large, punters are provided a small taster of what lies ahead with a competitive National Hunt card at Sandown while Flat enthusiasts begin their slow build up to the new season with the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton.

The opening race at Sandown is a Grade 3 novices’ handicap hurdle that contains some useful types and The Reformer is fancied to run a well on his handicap bow with Ruby Walsh taking over the reins. Others of interest are Captain Kirkton, who has made a promising start to his career over hurdles and should be suited by the likely strong pace. Mic’s Delight left his previous hurdling form behind when making a successful handicap debut last time out at Exeter and there should be more to come, while Skint made a winning start over hurdles at Wincanton in November and was runner-up in a warm race at Kempton in January, before failing to land the odds at Musselburgh last time.

The pick of the weekend’s action is the prestigious Imperial Cup and with the possibility of a £75,000 bonus, should the winner follow up at Cheltenham, Festival backers shall be watching closely. Following the defection of one-time favourite Aegean Dawn, the David Pipe-trained Arrayan now looks like heading the market.

Arrayan has improved out of all recognition this season and should have completed his hat-trick last time but for his jockey being unseated when he was clear. He very much looks set for a big run. Via Galilei easily landed the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Newbury last week and is turned out again quickly by his in-form trainer Gary Moore, and if fully over last week’s exertions he should be thereabouts. Cheshire Prince won well at Sandown in November and has been aimed at this race, while the useful but quirky performer Drill Sergeant is not without a chance if putting his best foot forward.

Others of note in a truly competitive race are Paul Nicholls’ sole representative Tito Bustillo, Alarazi who was second in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham in January on his last start and the J.P. McManus-owned Irish raider Alpine Eagle who is likely to be ridden by champion jockey A. P. McCoy.

The Listed EBF/DBS Mares National Hunt Flat Race Final takes place after the Imperial Cup and boasts some exciting recruits. The Graham Wylie-owned Zhakiera Spirit has a big reputation and has created an equally big impression in winning both her bumper starts to date. The main challengers to the likely favourite are the Nick Williams-trained Swincombe Flame who won well despite showing obvious greenness on her debut and the three-time winner Baby Shine has done nothing wrong and looks open to further improvement.

The two-mile novice chase at Sandown sees a clash of some exciting chasing recruits, particularly smart hurdler and one-time Arkle Trophy fancy Starluck, who bids to build on his satisfactory debut over the larger obstacles at Huntingdon last time with a look to possibly running at the Grand National meeting in April. However, this will be not be a walk in the park with useful recruits Mamlook and Harry Tricker likely to provide stiff opposition.

Flat race fans will no doubt be keeping a close eye on what looks a tight affair in the Lincoln Handicap Trial at Wolverhampton. Plenty of the runners are in with chances and tactics are likely to play a huge part in the outcome.

Prime Exhibit was second in the Lincoln itself last year and this hold-up performer comes out top on Timeform ratings. Norman Open looks likely to go off favourite having improved for the switch to his current yard, winning three times on the polytrack, and there a fair chance of more to come. Tartan Gigha ran as if returning to form last time and is on a mark he is fully capable of exploiting.

Others of note are Hazzard County, who hasn’t always looked straightforward but has struck up a good partnership with his jockey and gained his second win in his last three starts last time, and Price of Dance, who is well treated if recapturing his best on debut for Tom Tate.

Get the Timeform Jury’s selections for all of Saturday’s Channel 4 races with Timeform TV Focus. Click HERE to find out more.

Timeform Weekend Preview: Imperial Cup the highlight