Sandown preview: Leoncavallo heads Pipe’s bid to uphold Imperial tradition

David Pipe is double-handed in a bid to extend his family’s excellent record in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown.

His father Martin saddled six winners of the traditional pre-Cheltenham Festival feature, while David himself has struck gold on three occasions since.

Sponsors Paddy Power are this year offering a £50,000 bonus if the winner can follow up in any race at Cheltenham next week, a double which has been achieved on just three occasions since the incentive has been up for grabs – and all by horses trained at the Pipes’ Pond House yard.

Pipe senior saddled Olympian to win the Imperial Cup-Coral Cup double in 1993, while five years later Blowing Wind followed up success at Sandown with victory in the County Hurdle.

Gaspara landed the bonus pot for David Pipe in 2007 by winning what is now the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham.

This year he fires a twin assault, with Leoncavallo of particular interest on what is his first competitive appearance since finishing sixth in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October.

Pipe said: “Leoncavallo has had a nice break since running in the Cesarewitch where he ran very well. He has got a great attitude and a good level of ability. He has been placed in a lot of these good two-mile handicaps and we hope he runs well again.

“He is a tough customer who has won on the Flat and over hurdles for us. It is difficult being a nine year old off 142 in a race like this, but at the same time he should go well.

The nine-year-old is joined by stablemate Eamon An Cnoic, who won over the course and distance last month before filling the runner-up spot at Chepstow a week later.

“Eamon An Cnoic dropped down the ratings and took advantage of that, but he is back up in the ratings again. He definitely likes softer ground and won at the track the time before last. Fergus Gillard gets on well with him and he has got a nice weight so he deserves to take his chance, while Fergus claiming 5lbs helps as well.”

The likely favourite for the £50,000 contest is Natural History, but trainer Gary Moore is far from confident about his chances.

The Nathaniel gelding claimed the notable scalp of Moore’s Champion Hurdle hope Goshen on the Flat in October, when trained by Andrew Balding and owned by the Queen, before changing hands for 105,000 guineas later that month.

He was beaten on his first two hurdling starts, but bolted up on his handicap debut at Plumpton recently – and is 16lb higher in the weights as a result.

When told his charge was the clear favourite for the Imperial Cup, Moore said: “I think it’s total madness.

"He has come out of his Plumpton race quite well, though I thought he was fairly harshly treated for winning a weak race. He probably had it coming though as he was given a low enough mark.

“That is by the by though. He is in great order, and whether he is up to that mark we will only find out on Saturday. I felt in his first two races he was beaten by decent horses. The horse that beat him at Wincanton I thought was very impressive but he was a bit disappointing at Kelso.

“He has got some proper Flat form in the book and a lot of horses like this have won the race. He is very streetwise and battle-hardened. He was very slick over his hurdles at Plumpton the other day and he jumps like an old handicapper.

“Whether he is good enough it is a case of fingers crossed. The owner has had a couple of seconds in the race and it would be nice if they could have one go better.”

Langer Dan is well-fancied for the formidable combination of Dan and Harry Skelton.

Dan Skelton said: “Langer Dan ran well at Market Rasen the last day and is probably one of those horses that as a second-season hurdler, going from juveniles and novices, has just taken a while to find his feet.

“I think Sandown will really suit him, because he wants a stiff finish and he didn’t have that at Market Rasen. I’m not saying he is going to win, but he goes there in good health and should run well.”

Paul Nicholls saddles top-weight Miranda along with Diego Du Charmil and Malaya, winner of the race two years ago.

He told Betfair: “Miranda looked very good when winning a Grade Two mares’ hurdle at Doncaster at the end of January but keeps going up in the weights, so the 7lb claim of Angus Cheleda will certainly help. I expect her to run another solid race.

“Diego Du Charmil is talented and versatile, and did a lovely piece of work at Wincanton last week. He goes well fresh and is in good order.

“I have to admit Malaya was a bit disappointing last time at Ascot, where I felt the step up in trip would be in her favour. But after watching her that day, I am not convinced that is the case.

“While Malaya can be a bit in and out, she won this race two years ago, so we know the track suits her well – and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her bounce back to form.”

It is 10 years since Lucy Wadham saddled Alarazi to glory in the race, and the Newmarket handler hopes four-time champion jockey Richard Johnson can be her “super-sub” aboard Miss Heritage this time.

Wadham said: “Miss Heritage is always underestimated. She is solid as a rock and is very consistent. She is a bit unlucky not to have won last time. She keeps creeping up the handicap but she is one of those horses that always gives it a good go.

“She is not very big but is really tough. She is not the most straightforward at home and my head girl rides her all the time and they have struck up a great relationship.

“Bryony Frost was claimed by Paul Nicholls so we have got Richard Johnson who is two out of three this season, so hopefully he will be our super-sub again.”

Hang In There has failed to feature since winning a Grade Two at Cheltenham in November 2019, but trainer Emma Lavelle feels the seven-year-old is in the best shape he has been all season.

She said: “I just think he has taken a bit of time to come to himself while he doesn’t want the ground too soft. We played around stepping up in trip but I don’t think that worked, we put a hood on him as he can be free going and we tried dropping him in.

“I’ve definitely got him in the best form I’ve had him all season and he is in a great place mentally. My biggest concern is that we wouldn’t too much rain. He is a tough little horse and he has probably come down to a weight that gives him a good chance.”

Karl Philippe bids to provide Fergal O’Brien with another big-race victory in the EBF Final at Sandown.

The Gloucestershire-based trainer is enjoying an excellent campaign, highlighted by the Grade Two triumphs of Hurricane Harvey, Silver Hallmark and Alaphilippe.

Before saddling likely Pertemps Final favourite Imperial Alcazar at next week’s Cheltenham Festival, O’Brien is first out to strike Grade Three gold on Saturday with Karl Philippe – who made it third time lucky over hurdles with a 10-length success at Exeter last month.

O’Brien said: “I hope he goes there with a good chance. He’s in good form.

“He was placed in his first two hurdles over two miles – and as soon as we stepped him up in trip and rode him a bit more forward, he proved the shorter trip was the problem.

“We’re looking forward to running him on Saturday and seeing how he gets on.

“It’s very competitive, but we’ll go there and take our chance.”

David Pipe saddles top-weight Martinhal, who beat Karl Philippe by half a length in January and followed up last time.

“He’s won his last two, and the step up in trip should suit,” said the Pond House trainer.

“Like a lot of these horses, all his form has been on softer ground.

“It’s difficult to win a race like this off top-weight, but we’re hoping he has an each-way chance.”

Colin Tizzard is confident that Striking A Pose can continue his progression by completing a hat-trick of victories for the season when he steps up into Grade Three company fo the first time.

Tizzard said: “He has won his last two and he couldn’t have won any easier at Exeter where he never even came off the bridle, though it wasn’t the strongest of races.

“I love running horses at Cheltenham just in case they are better than what you think. He is off 130 so, if we thought he was good enough to go Cheltenham, where we had him in the Albert Bartlett, then he is good enough to win this one.

“He was green as grass at Newton Abbot first time out this season but he had only run once before. He is a beautiful horse on the gallops. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in the shake-up.

“If he is good enough he could go to Aintree, but we need to find how good he is and this is a step up again.”

Tizzard is also represented by Road Senam, who will be bidding to claim a career first success.

He added: “He ran into six hurdles at Doncaster and he still finished third. He came over with quite a big reputation from France but he hasn’t shown it yet.

“If we are going to lose his novice status we don’t mind doing it in this race. It is better doing this than going for a little novice as if he doesn’t win this he will be a novice next season.”

Sam Barton finished two places ahead of Road Senam at Doncaster last time out when opening his account over hurdles and trainer Emma Lavelle expects to see further improvement from the six year old.

Lavelle said: “Sam Barton is a lovely horse that is clearly going to be a chaser going forward. The race at Doncaster has worked out well and he has come on for that mentally and physically and is in good form. He has got the right profile for this race.

“I was impressed how easily he travelled through the race. Though he was clearly green when he got to the front I loved how he went about it through the race. The track should be fine for him as it is a big galloping track like Doncaster.”

David Pipe expects the return to two and a half miles to help Martinhal, who is another chasing a three timer following back-to-back victories at Exeter.

He said: “Martinhal has got a great attitude and I think the step back up in trip will help him as well. The ground is going to be quicker than he has encountered but I’m sure he will handle it. Whether he is as effective on it only time will tell.

“It is difficult winning handicaps like this off top weight but we will give it a go. Dynaste finished sixth in it off top weight and he still ran a very good race and Martinhal could do the same.”

Dorking Boy was denied a potential first hurdles success at Plumpton last time after the race was voided midway through, but trainer Gary Moore feels it could have worked out in his favour.

He said: “I think he would have won at Plumpton but no one will ever know. He has sneaked into this race though on a nice racing weight. If it is genuine good to soft ground I can see him improve on his last run. I think he wants this sort of trip and he has a good each way chance.”

The Paul Nicholls-trained Rainyday Woman sets the standard in the first of two Listed races on the card – the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The daughter of Kayf Tara bolted up on her debut for the Ditcheat handler at Stratford in November, before following up in Listed company at Huntingdon the following month.

“She has done nothing but please since she joined us in the summer, winning stylishly at Stratford before following up in a Listed mares’ bumper at Huntingdon just before Christmas,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“Rainyday Woman has a 4lb penalty in a hot looking race, and any further rain at Sandown would be in her favour.”

Rainyday Woman is re-opposed by Kim Bailey’s Huntingdon runner-up Flirtatious Girl, while the dangers include Henderson’s Tweed Skirt.

Bailey said: “Flirtatious Girl has run well on her two starts this season and she seems to have improved at home. The track will suit as all she did was stay at Huntingdon and her and the winner finished a long way clear off the third.

“She is not very big and the weight she receives from Rainyday Woman will help, but I was very impressed with her last time out as she pulled hard but still managed to win. It’s probably the most competitive mares’ bumper this season but hopefully she will run well.”

Code Name Lise arrives here after victory at Ascot but trainer Lucy Wadham is under no illusions abnout the pontential task here.

“It looks a really tough renewal this year but at home Code Name Lise is in good form," she said. "I think the track will suit but it’s going to be a very tough race - it would be nice to finish in the first three.

“I thought she did it quite nicely at Ascot considering she was so green but she always looked like she was going to win. Racing in front of the big empty stand at Ascot will stand her in good stead here.”

Listed honours are also up for grabs in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Novices’ Handicap Chase – a race which has been switched to Sandown from the Cheltenham Festival.

High Up In The Air has won his last five races for Gary Moore, who said: “This is a massive jump up in class.

“He just needed that first run over fences at the start of the season, while he loves soft ground and was well handicapped.

“He is a very good jumper, and that has helped him. He has won here before, but that was over shorter, and I think the extra few furlongs will suit him.”

Evan Williams is looking forward to saddling Annsam, who was slapped with a 12lb rise for a 42-length win at Ludlow in December.

“He’s a raw horse. The handicapper absolutely hoofed him up for winning a bad race last time, (but) I’d be pretty keen to give it a crack,” said the Welsh trainer.

“He went up 12lb for winning what in effect was a ‘nothing’ race, having a school round.

“The handicapper is right 99 per cent of the time, so I hope he is right.

“Annsam is a nice horse, (but) he’s a raw horse.”