Betfair Imperial Cup Big Race Verdict: Two Sandown fancies each-way at 14/1 and 22/1

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A maximum field and a reserve itching to get in

A maximum field of 22 allowed and a full 22 line up for the Betfair Imperial Cup and the going facing the charges will certainly be on the better side than earlier this week. The hurdles' track always rides softer so it's interesting the Sandown commissars have watered this week.

The Betfair Sportsbook offer six places here for an each-way bet and Mondo Man has been the steamer all week. Now into 11/43.75 for Gary Moore, the horse certainly could be thrown in from his mark of 123 considering he has earned a rating on the Flat of 110. Lightly-raced, just five, low weight - it's all there bar the price.

To complicate matters, Dan Skelton's reserve Brace For Landing has been backed into 9/110.00. Considering he was 33/134.00 poke for a handicap hurdle at Sandown when last seen, we can file this one under "watch this space".

Money for the Paul Nicholls'-trained Afadil to report from 16/117.00 to 12/113.00 and the booking of Freddie Keighley a pointer of things to come perhaps as Keighley is rather good in my opinion and Afadil was third in the race 12 months ago under another Freddie - Gingell.

Mondo Man the Timeform Top Horse

Mondo Man was looking like the biggest waste of money ever at 520,000, a fee that would make Balzac's Eugenie Grandet wince, but at least he won at Plumpton by 33L to keep everyone happy.

He has a Timeform rating of 150 with a small 'p' which makes him the clear top pick.

Other TF ratings to note here as Rubber Ball and Bubble Dubi (Brian Badonde's dream pairing) both hold 148 figures so not a million miles away from Mondo Man, and Rubber Ball's trainer Neil King landed a big prize recently on a Saturday with chaser Lookaway.

Wreckless Eric for Jonjo O'Neill is at 11/26.50 and was beaten nearly half the track at Newbury last time, so the market has clearly latched onto the fact he has first-time cheekpieces for Saturday, but the chances of me backing a horse from the Jackdaws yard at that price are zero. He did finish second 12 months ago in the race, but he's a little short for me.

I put up Gooloogong for trainer George Baker in this week's antepost column at 16/117.00, and my influence in the market has hit strongly here - as the horse is now out to 22/123.00, but with the six places now, I am happy to go in again.

He has the 10lb rise from a 12L Kempton victory and is lightly-raced over hurdles and there was no fluke about the win last time. I can see a strong pace suiting him and his TF rating also puts him well into the mix.

Pace map and tactics

FRONT RUNNERS: Knickerbockerglory?, Ohh Betty, Top Jimmy, Rubber Ball, Nardaran, Mondo Man? Game Colours, General Briar.

PROMINENT: Fingle Bridge, Bubble Dubi, Nardaran, Gooloogong, Jack Hyde, Go Dante? Wreckless Eric, Mr McLoughlan, Mondo Man?, We're Red And Blue.

MID-DIVISION: Gibbs Island, Afadil.

HOLD-UP: Gibbs Island, Go Dante, Spirits Bay, Star Of Guiting, Afadil.

Trainer form

Gary and Josh Moore: 5-36 at 14%, at Sandown this season 6-18 at 34%.

Nicky Henderson: 14-38 at 36%, 16 from 108 at Sandown last five years at 14%.

Jonjo O'Neill: 2-26 at 8%, 4-39 at 10% Sandown last five years.

Dan Skelton: 21-137 at 15%, 2-17 at Sandown this term at 12%.

Neil King: 6-13 at 46% and 5-7 at 71%.

Chris Gordon: 0-15.

Olly Murphy: 6-46 at 13%, 1-11 at Sandown this term 9%.

Fergal O'Brien: 1-22 at 5%,

Paul Nicholls: 1-25 at 4%, 4-14 at Sandown this term at 29%, 35-176 last five years at Sandown.

George Baker: 0-1

Ben Clarke: 2-9 at 22%,

Each-way possibilities

Trainer Neil King's astonishing 71% strike-rate makes Rubber Ball a contender, although the 9/110.00 price is hardly exciting as a potential each-way bet. He may well drift.

Go Dante, a two-time winner of the Imperial Cup is a 10/111.00 chance while Knickerbockerglory also has some previous in the Imperial Cup when fifth last year from 139 and given too much to do.

Fingle Bridge has a tough task from top weight, and a similar sort of price with Star Of Guiting appeals as a type to suit the pace of the race as he travels well with his hold-up style. However, he does need quite a jump in terms of improvement with wins from 109 and 119.

Betfair Imperial Cup Verdict

With the six places on offer I am very happy with the each-way bet still on Gooloogong despite the drift to 22/123.00 and while Star Of Guiting needs a jolt in improvement to figure, he did beat Afadil in the Scottish County Handicap Hurdle with the 138-rated Williethebuilder further behind.

At 14/115.00 from the 16/117.00 he can hopefully figure.

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