Ante-post / Matt Gardner / 07 March 2012 /

The Imperial Cup is established as one of the handicap hurdle highlights of the National Hunt season, a race that tends to blend recognised performers with those that are much-less exposed. Timeform's Matt Gardner sifts through the 2012 line-up confident of unearthing the victor...

A quick glance at the market for the Imperial Cup quickly throws up a horse that has not been seen on a racecourse in this sphere since the 2009 Triumph Hurdle, namely the David Pipe-trained Master of Arts, who finished eleventh and over 30 lengths behind eventual winner Zaynar.

Trained on the Flat by Sir Mark Prescott until 2008, when he was bought for 310,000 guineas at the Newmarket Autumn Sales, he looked an exciting recruit to the hurdling ranks on debut at Doncaster the following January, jumping fluently and winning with a degree of comfort.

While the hurdling prowess which saw him in such good stead there was not in evidence in the Triumph, it is probably best to write-off the Cheltenham performance and focus on his Flat runs of last year, when he put up a number of consistent efforts towards the end of the season culminating in a pair of solid third-placed efforts.

Acknowledging that there's every chance he has been laid out for Saturday from a BHA mark of just 135, given the Pipe family's excellent record in the Imperial Cup (successful eight times, with David Pipe winning the race in both 2007 and 2008), there has been plenty of market support for him already and his current price of [5.4] makes very little appeal.

The horse presently disputing towards the head of the market is another who was plying his trade on the Flat in 2011, before turning his hand to hurdling. The performer in question is Ted Spread who, in three starts over timber (one for Mark Tompkins and two for Paul Nicholls), has improved rapidly. He got off the mark at Taunton last time, admittedly against some averagely-handicapped rivals, but the application of the first-time tongue strap saw him make a mockery of his mark with a very useful performance and the promise of even more to come.

If backing market leaders is your bag then Ted Spread appeals as a better prospect than Master of Arts. However, delve a little deeper and the rewards may be greater.

Emma Lavelle has been in sparkling form this season, already bettering her tally for any previous campaign and currently achieving her second-highest strike rate (18%). When last seen in November of 2010, Lavelle's Tocca Ferro was a rapidly improving hurdler, looking one to keep onside whichever route he were to go down.

His last two runs both returned wins, at Newbury and Ascot, and both were gained in fairly competitive events. Prior to that he really impressed with the way he travelled into contention in the 2010 renewal of this contest before having nothing left when asked for his effort, although his trainer later reported a dirty scope as a likely cause for the capitulation.

The lengthy absence is an obvious concern, but on the three occasions that he has been brought to the racecourse fresh he has won twice. Tocca Ferro will race off a BHA mark just 3lb higher than for that last win, which would give him an excellent chance given his progressive profile and, at the [13.0] available at present, he is more than worth supporting in his bid to make a winning return.

A number of others make some appeal, starting with the Gary Moore-trained Sire de Grugy. The 6-y-os two best performances have come on his last two starts, when fourth in the Betfair Hurdle and successful in a decent Taunton handicap hurdle, suggesting that he is possibly just finding his feet. A 6lb rise will make things harder, but he looks one of the more solid in the field.

Nampour is another that would make some appeal, with his latest Newbury second demonstrating that all of his old ability is intact. His handicap mark looks well within reach and he cannot be ruled out, but it is fairly obvious that he has not stood all that much racing in the last few seasons and he may just find this contest coming too soon a week after the Newbury effort.

Another pair to note are Chesil Beach Boy and Starluck. The former has risen 29lb in the handicap for three wins at Wincanton this season, impressing on each occasion. The 9lb extra he has to contend with for his latest success may not stop him.

Starluck is more a horse of interest rather than one to be recommended as a selection, as his return from a ten-month absence at Wincanton did not offer a great deal of encouragement, off the bridle sooner than normal on ground that possibly didn't suit. Granted a quicker surface he may show more signs of life, and would be a huge danger if returning to anything like his best, but there are too many doubts to highlight him as the likely winner.

The market vibes for Master of Arts clearly have to be taken seriously given connections, but in truth he does not appeal as a good bet. Ted Spread is of more interest at a similar price, but it could pay to put Tocca Ferro's absence to the back of your mind because, if picking up where he left off, he would have an excellent chance of landing the spoils - his record fresh gives further cause for optimism. Chesil Beach Boy is the type to continue progressing, with the 9lb rise unlikely to be enough to prevent a good showing, and he appeals as a solid place bet.

Recommendations
Back Tocca Ferro @ [13.0] to win the Imperial Cup
Back Chesil Beach Boy @ [7.0] for a place in the Imperial Cup
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