Imperial Cup Day

The stable has two runners this afternoon at Sandown on this final weekend's action before the Cheltenham Festival.  Presenting Ace competes in the Grade 3 EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle Final and this looks to be a fiercely competitive eighteen runner handicap hurdle with bookmakers going about 6/1 the field.  We also have Master Of Arts who runs in the feature race, the Imperial Cup - I see that he was well-supported earlier in the week, presumably on the back of the stable's enviable record in the race.  Martin won the race six times while David has won the race twice in the past with Gaspara (who went on to do the double at the Cheltenham Festival) and Ashkazar.  Hopefully Master Of Arts can make it three.

Above: Master Of Arts wins at Doncaster in 2009 (photo courtesy of Wendels)

The stable has two runners this afternoon at Sandown on this final weekend's action before the Cheltenham Festival.  Presenting Ace competes in the Grade 3 EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle Final and this looks to be a fiercely competitive eighteen runner handicap hurdle with bookmakers going about 6/1 the field.  We also have Master Of Arts who runs in the feature race, the Imperial Cup - I see that he was well-supported earlier in the week, presumably on the back of the stable's enviable record in the race.  Martin won the race six times while David has won the race twice in the past with Gaspara (who went on to do the double at the Cheltenham Festival) and Ashkazar.  Hopefully Master Of Arts can make it three.

There is a great piece in today's Racing Post about Cheltenham Festival regular Buena Vista who next week will be making his eighth appearance at the meeting and will be bidding for an incredible hat-trick in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final on Thursday.  He helped to put Hadden Frost and Conor O'Farrell (pictured right) on the map by winning at the last two Festivals - I wonder which lucky young jockey will get the leg-up this time around?  Jamie Spencer rode him on his first appearance at the Festival in the Champion Bumper all the way back in 2005 - he has certainly gone on to ride a few winners since then!

I watched Kauto Star gallop after racing at Wincanton yesterday afternoon with stablemate Mon Perrain and I have to say, there didn't look to be an awful lot wrong with him.  He was a bit keen to start with but settled better after about a mile - that may have been because they didn't go that quickly.  Ruby looked very pleased after the workout and I would be surprised if he didn't make the line-up for the Gold Cup.  He will school again before the big one, and accidents barring we should be in for some race next Friday.

*****

On the football front I will be having a go at Norwich at 10/11, Brighton at 4/5 and Charlton at 4/5 in a little treble.  Have a nice weekend!