GOOD LORD!
Call on Henderson’s ace for Imperial Cup glory at Sandown
PUT your faith in CALL ME LORD in the Matchbook Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (2.25, ITV4) at Sandown. The Nicky Henderson (right) trainee has made two previous visits to Esher – and has returned to Lambourn victorious on both occasions.
The French native was making his British debut when landing a juvenile handicap hurdle for
Daryl Jacob on the
Jump Finale card last April.
Although beaten at Huntingdon in November, Call Me Lord relished the return to Sandown with a three-and-a-quarter length win in January. Last time out my selection, who holds an entry in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday, raised his sights for Wincanton’s Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle three weeks ago, finishing third behind Champion Hurdle hope Elgin.
But the return to Sandown and to handicap company will suit Call Me Lord, who can earn a crack at the £100,000 bonus on offer for the Imperial Cup winner – if he doubles up at the Festival.
TODAY’S Imperial Cup (2.25 Sandown) is similar to last month’s Betfair Hurdle as novices tend to dominate.
The other main race trends tell us the likely winner will need to have the following stats:
■ Less than eight hurdle runs.
■ Aged five or six.
■ Last outing no more than 42 days ago.
■ An official rating of no more than 133.
There are only two horses who qualify — Friday Night Light and Shanroe Saint.
Shanroe Spirit is already exposed as being pretty moderate, as his price reflects following a series of modest performances since November.
So that leaves us with FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHT,
trained by David Pipe who, along with his father before him, has taken this nine times.
The Pond House team are down on winners at present, but Friday Night Live can buck that trend, helped by Nicky Henderson’s Call Me Lord keeping the weights up at the head of the field.
Pipe’s five-year-old is progressive and travelled really well throughout his recent Ascot second to Le Patriote.
Judged on that effort, dropping in trip today should suit and, in expectation Pipe still has some magic to sprinkle, Friday Night Light is worth 2pts win at 8-1 with most firms.