Medison's connections celebrate the win (Getty Images).

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Medison is 5-1 (from 14-1) favourite with the sponsors for next Wednesday's Coral Cup following a facile win in the Imperial Cup at Sandown this afternoon.

The Martin Pipe-trained five-year-old was given a typically patient ride towards the rear of the field in the early stages by Timmy Murphy.

But he made ominously smooth progress into the straight and cruised to the front after the last, in the end coming home three and a half lengths clear of Fenix without coming off the bridle.

"If this horse does line up at Prestbury Park next week he must have a major chance of landing a third Imperial Cup/Cheltenham double for Martin Pipe," reckoned Coral's David Stevens.

Hills were even more impressed and go just 3-1.

Pipe himself said afterwards: "I don't know what we'll do next week. We'll see how he comes out of the race first, but he'll need a few to come out."