Go Dante Aiming For Record Third Imperial Cup Success

Go Dante will bid for a piece of history at Sandown on Saturday by ending up being the very first three-time winner of the Betfair Imperial Cup.


Olly Murphy's veteran has actually declared narrow success in the last two editions of the prominent handicap, which is the traditional highlight the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival gets under method.


Betfair are using a ₤ 100,000 bonus to the connections of the winner should the 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 prize for a horse who is 3 from three at Sandown however has actually dissatisfied on his last number of outings at Windsor and Newbury.


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


"In his last number of runs they have actually gone extremely, extremely quick early on flat tracks and it hasn't fit him, so ideally going back to a stiffer track will suit.


"It would be nice to win for a third time. We understand he loves the location and we're eagerly anticipating running him."


Go Dante in winning action at Sandown (John Walton/PA)


Murphy will have a second string to his bow in the form of Fingle Bridge, who reverted to the smaller challenges to end up 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 certainly great horse with a big engine and ideally a run in a handicap the last day will have sharpened him up once again. He needs to go there with an opportunity."


Fingle Bridge is the joint premier horse along with the Dan Skelton-trained Knickerbockerglory in a 30-strong list of entries.


Other competitors consist of Ben Clarke's classy mare Ooh Betty, the JP McManus-owned Khrisma from Nicky Henderson's backyard, Chris Gordon's General Briar and Mondo Man, trained by the father-and-son collaboration of Gary and Josh Moore.


Olly Murphy might also run 2 in the ₤ 80,000 European Breeders' Fund Betfair "National Hunt" Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final, with the prolific Scorpio Rising set to be signed up with by stablemate Gee Force Flyer.


Scorpio Rising his most significant hope having won his last 3 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 believe the track and journey and whatever will suit him well.


"He remains in really excellent kind, came out of Windsor well and ideally he's improving.


"We 'd welcome a bit more rain for Gee Force Flyer but the stiff track will fit him well, he's feasibly disabled and this race has actually been the prepare for a very long time with him."