14:27 Sandown

Saturday 7 March 2026

All13:1513:5014:2715:0015:3516:1016:45

Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 2 | 1m 7f 216y | 23 Runners | Turf

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: O Murphy| OR: 139| BF| D

Went 3-3 over hurdles last season, including a listed novice. Best of the rest behind Lulamba on Exeter chase debut/reappearance and came home alone at Uttoxeter next time. Held back by jumping at Ayr but lot to like about strong-travelling second on handicap debut back over timber latest.

Form: 11-2132

Gibbs Island^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 134| D

28/1

Victor Ludorum winner at Haydock last winter and returned to make a successful start to his handicap hurdle career at Chepstow (2m, good to firm) in October. Three lesser efforts have followed, though and this isn't an easy race to bounce back in with a hood back on.

Form: P8-1057

Go Dante^t,p²⁸

12/1

Has won the last 2 renewals of this, latterly from 5 lb lower a year ago. Enhanced his excellent record at this venue with another victory in December and while a couple of heavy defeats have followed, it would come as no surprise were he to revive post breathing op with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 71-610P

Ooh Betty^t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 132| CD

18/1

Likeable mare who has been a credit to connections, showing a really willing attitude when landing valuable Grade 2 at Ascot in January. Down the field in this race a year ago from the same mark and career best needed to land this.

Form: 03-0001

Top Jimmy⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| D

11/1

On the up since joining current yard, landing a pair of novice hurdles at Uttoxeter in October and continued theme of race-by-race progress over obstacles when runner-up at Windsor (20f) in January. Drop back to 2m (albeit likely to be a well-run race) isn't sure to suit.

Form: 44-1132

Rubber Ball⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 128| D

6/1

Marked drop back in trip seemed to help a lot and he got his career back on track in no uncertain terms when landing 7-runner handicap at Newbury a week ago. Up 8 lb in a better race but he's lightly raced and represents an in-form yard.

Form: 9-047P1

Bubble Dubi²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 128| D

40/1

Strong traveller who posted a useful effort to make light of a long absence in 17f Aintree handicap in November. That was an unconventional race and he seemed anchored by a 9 lb rise at Newbury last month.

Form: 3331/18

Messerschmitt¹²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N Meade| OR: 127| D

40/1

Juvenile hurdle winner who shaped very well on second handicap start when third in a big-field contest at Galway in August. Excellent second on the level later that month but subsequent hurdles efforts during the autumn were ordinary at best. Tongue tie removed back from a break.

Form: 355-380

Nardaran^t,p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126| CD

33/1

€135,000 purchase who resumed progress following wind surgery this season, scoring at Plumpton and over this C&D during the autumn. Hasn't been plain sailing since but fifth-place finish in high-profile AW novice a fortnight ago should have teed him up nicely for this.

Form: 18-11P6

Gooloogong³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: George Baker| OR: 124| D

20/1

Fairly useful Flat performer at best. Opened his account in this sphere when winning Fontwell novice (17.7f, good) in November 2024. In good heart in staying handicaps on the AW last spring and no fluke about 50/1 rout on last month's return to hurdling. 10 lb rise understandable.

Form: 8/31-1

Spirits Bay²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 124| D

28/1

Returned with success over hurdles at Newton Abbot (2m) in October and posted a good fourth of 10 on just his second chasing run in 2m3f Exeter handicap in January. Better was expected returned to timber/2m at Taunton but he was disappointing, albeit a wide trip wasn't much help.

Form: 70-1347

Jack Hyde^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124| BF| D

12/1

Landed the odds in 2m Newton Abbot novice in September and has advanced his form since, tongue tie refitted when a very good second in handicaps at Cheltenham in November and Taunton last month. Better than result too in latter race and he's an interesting contender.

Form: 4-15522

Wreckless Eric^p1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| D

15/2

Won strong novice handicap at Cheltenham and ran another cracker when narrowly denied by Go Dante in this a year ago. Hasn't hit the same heights in 3 outings this term but yard going a bit better now and he's 3 lb lower with this ground more suitable than Newbury. Cheekpieces also on.

Form: 620-796

Mr Mcloughlan¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Williams| T: Jack Jones| OR: 123| D

50/1

Won back-to-back novice/maiden hurdles earlier this season before finding Grade 2 company too hot at Cheltenham. Back on track to resume winning ways on handicap debut at Huntingdon in November. Fit from warm AW novice but needs to raise his game.

Form: 311817

No Ordinary Joe^t,p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁵⁾| T: Faye Bramley| OR: 123| CD

16/1

Useful on his day for Nicky Henderson but winless since 2022. Few obvious positives to take from his first 6 outings for new connections but fitted with cheekpieces he offered a lot more when fifth at Ascot last month. Dangerous if building on that.

Form: 0P0905

Mondo Man¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123| D

11/4

Smart on the Flat in France (purchased for €520,000 last October) and very well treated on that level over hurdles. Well backed when only fourth at Ascot in December (race not run to suit) but has since landed the odds at Plumpton and looks to hold leading claims.

Form: 239-241

We're Red And Blue⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123| D

28/1

Free-going sort early in his career but looked more professional when gaining handicap breakthrough at Huntingdon in December. Ran at least as well when second at Kempton a month later and he seems likely to give it another good go.

Form: 187-012

Star Of Guiting³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 122| D

20/1

Dual juvenile winner for Nigel Twiston-Davies last season and his strong-travelling style proved well suited to Musselburgh this winter, winning back-to-back handicaps. Value for extra last time, so his limit has not yet been reached.

Form: 4-3U211

Game Colours^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Rex Dingle| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 122| D

40/1

Gained reward for her consistency when landing the odds in 4-runner heavy-ground handicap at Exeter 15 days ago, forging clear. Likeable type but far deeper race and 3 lb rise may anchor her.

Form: 32-3321

Afadil³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Freddie Keighley⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 121| D

9/1

Another good Musselburgh effort when second again to reopposing Star of Guiting a month ago. Third in this race from 1 lb higher a year ago so a bold bid could be forthcoming.

Form: 0P-7342

General Briar⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 121| D

20/1

Very strong at the line back at 2m when opening his account at Plumpton in December and improved again when following up in a Newbury handicap a month later. Jumping and attitude both look assets so much depends on how he copes with the hurly-burly of a race like this.

Form: 26-F311

Brace For Landing^p⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 118

11/2

Made the frame both starts in France and easily best effort for this yard with cheekpieces on when fifth over C&D in January. In top hands and not yet exposed and interesting back in this big-field environment having snuck in as first reserve.

Form: 42-355

Non-Runners

Knickerbockerglory⁵⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 10

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Mondo Man (3/1), Wreckless Eric (7/1), Brace For Landing (7/1), Go Dante (8/1), Rubber Ball (8/1), Jack Hyde (14/1), Afadil (14/1), General Briar (16/1), Top Jimmy (16/1), Knickerbockerglory (16/1), Fingle Bridge (16/1), No Ordinary Joe (20/1), Gooloogong (20/1), Ooh Betty (20/1), Star Of Guiting (25/1), Game Colours (25/1), Spirits Bay (33/1), Gibbs Island (33/1), We're Red And Blue (33/1), Nardaran (33/1), Messerschmitt (33/1), Bubble Dubi (33/1), Mr Mcloughlan (50/1)

A big-field handicap but the eye is firmly drawn towards MONDO MAN. He failed to justify support on handicap debut at Ascot in December but he's since outclassed inferior opposition at Plumpton and based on his Flat form, he can confirm his mark to be lenient this time. Wreckless Eric was runner-up in this a year ago and looks interesting with cheekpieces on, while Go Dante demands consideration chasing an Imperial Cup hat-trick.