PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK...

AN ominous sign ahead of the Cheltenham Festival as the sole Irish runner in yesterday’s Imperial Cup won handsomely at Sandown. SURPRISE PACKAGE was 20-1 but romped home by nine lengths. Ridden by the excellent James Bowen on his 21st birthday, the Peter Fahey-trained six-year-old sliced through the field on the outside to win as he pleased.