Leon looks mint for the Imperial
DAVID PIPE can uphold family tradition by capturing today’s Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown with LEONCAVALLO (2.25, ITV4).
Pipe has been successful three times in this event and his father, Martin, on six occasions.
The trainer will have his eye on the £50,000 bonus if the winner follows up with success at next week’s Cheltenham Festival, a feat he achieved with Gaspara in 2007.
Leoncavallo comes here off the back of an excellent sixth in the Cesarewitch.
His most recent outing over jumps was a victory over fences at Stratford but he has posted some smart performances over hurdles.
Natural History commands respect and is open to improvement.
But his lack of experience, just three runs over hurdles, may count against him.
The progressive
PATROCLUS (1.50, nap, ITV4) gets the nod in the EBF Hurdle.
He beat Riggs, second with something in hand at Doncaster last month and he will struggle to turn the tables on only 1lb better terms.
Megan Nicholls can make it three wins on the bounce with
RAINYDAY WOMAN (3.00, nb, ITV4) for her father Paul in the Mares’ NH Flat Race.
The pair impressed with wins at Stratford and Huntingdon, where she had Flirtations Girl (now 4lb better off) over three lengths behind her.
The handicapper has hit ANNSAM (3.35, treble, ITV4) hard, up 12lb, but it will not stop this 42-length winner of his recent race at Ludlow. After a spell in the wilderness, MUMS TIPPLE (2.05, ITV4) can redeem himself at Wolverhampton.
After a dazzling juvenile campaign, he bombed out last season.
Now gelded, he signalled a return to form at Lingfield last month where he lacked room when sixth behind Exalted Angel.
Richard Hannon, the four-year-old’s trainer, can make it a double with MAN OF THE NIGHT (2.40, ITV4). The colt ran some cracking races on turf last season and has the class to make a winning all-weather debut.
A gelding operation and the first-time checkpieces will do the trick for REPARTEE (3.15, ITV).
He went off the boil after an impressive Listed victory at Windsor in June.