2025 Sandown Imperial Cup Meeting Preview – DS
2025 Sandown Imperial Cup Meeting Tips
Thankfully, we managed to get back on track at Kelso last weekend. We got off the mark with a couple of places at 14/1 with Carrig Kate and Erne River. Our NB Cracking Rhapsody then won the Morebattle for the second year running at 12s, he is now officially a good friend of the blog. I was bitterly disappointed by Tedley, perhaps he is not as good as I thought. The focus now switches to the 2025 Sandown Imperial Cup meeting, Dave Stevos’ preview is below.
1.50 Sandown – NH Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final (Premier)
A really tricky race to try and read. As someone who is not a fan of backing handicap debutants, this contest is not one I would be rushing to have a bet in normally. Ben Pauling had a 1-2 in this last season and he is triple handed this year. Ben Jones rides It’s Hard To Know (20/1), Kielan Woods is on Followcato (28/1) and Callum Pritchard claims 5lb off Meetmebythesea (9/2).
They are entitled to respect but the one I’ll take a chance on at a bigger price is Malinificent for Warren Greatrex with Sean Bowen in the saddle. This lad is making his handicap debut off a mark of 114. It will be his first start on good to soft ground and also his first try over 2m4f, so he has a bit to prove.
Soft Ground
He has shown ability in his three starts under rules on soft and heavy ground. His sire, Malinas, has a 22% winner to runner strike rate on heavy compared to 34% on good to soft and 33% on good. His dam, Lady Mischief, was unraced but she is a half to Bob Mahler, a three time winner on good/good to soft who stayed all day so on breeding, the step up in trip and better ground should bring about plenty of improvement.
The booking of Sean Bowen is another plus. He is 9/48 when riding for this yard and he has hit the frame in over 50% of his rides for Greatrex. This isn’t one for max stakes but at odds of 28/1, hopefully Malinificent will improve for the better ground and new trip.
2025 Sandown Imperial Cup Meeting Tip: Malinificent e/w @ 28/1 (5 places)
2.25 Sandown – Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier)
Ollie Murphy landed this big pot last year with Go Dante. The handicapper has given him the Langer Dan treatment and he is back to defend his crown off a 2lb lower mark. He has had a wind-op since that win and he’s been fairly well beaten on his four starts since that procedure but the return to the scene of his last win may well spark a revival.
There’s not much juice in his odds of 15/2 though. The same sentiment applies to the potentially very well handicapped Spirits Bay, who got to within 5.25l of Constitution Hill last time. Sam Twiston-Davies ominously takes over from Jordan Nailor in the plate and I’d be very keen on him only for his odds of just 8/1.
Solid Newbury Run
The one I’ll take a flier on at a nice e/w price is King William Rufus. Trained by the shrewd Chris Gordon, this son of Diamond Boy ran a very decent race in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month. A prominent racer, he looked a big threat jumping the second last but his effort petered out after the last and I am blaming the rain softened ground for that.
The last time he ran on ground with good in the description, he absolutely bolted up at Ascot. When he ran on good to soft at Kempton in November he chased home Kabral Du Mathan, who was running off 123. He’s now rated 139 so that form looks solid.
I’d imagine Gordon has been waiting for nice spring ground for this fella and he should get it today. He’s effective going right handed and Rex Dingle, on board for his maiden hurdle win, returns to the plate. At odds of 16/1, King William Rufus is worth backing e/w.
2025 Sandown Imperial Cup Meeting Tip: King William Rufus e/w @ 16/1 NAP (5 places)
2.45 Wolverhampton – Lincoln Trial Handicap (Class 2)
A bit of flat action to whet the appetite ahead of the Curragh next weekend. Kingdom Come won this off 101 last year but he came into the race on the back of two runs. This time, he has been off since December (and he is 2lbs higher) but he has gone well fresh before so another big run would come as no surprise whatsoever.
One that makes a bit of appeal at bigger odds is the Dr Newland and Jamie Insole trained Farasi Lane. Rated 87, he’s entered in the Lincoln and he could do with a 5lb penalty if he is to have any chance of sneaking in. That should mean he is trying, which is always a plus, and he got to within 1.25l of Koy Koy on his last run over C&D. However, he does come with risks attached.
Last time out at Southwell he ran a nice race to finish fourth over 7f but he reportedly bled from the nose. He did finish off his race pretty well though so it didn’t seem to have much of an effect on his performance. The step back up to a mile is a plus on that evidence and the handicapper dropped him 1lb, so he is now 2lb below his last winning mark.
Farasi Lane is nicely drawn in stall 3, Hollie Doyle keeps the faith and at odds of 14/1, hopefully he can run into the places.
2025 Wolverhampton Saturday Tip: Farasi Lane e/w @ 14/1 (4 places)
3.00 Sandown – Mares’ NH Flat Race (Listed)
I usually leave bumpers well alone but I can’t resist having a small e/w interest on Easy Love. Anthony Honeyball trains this daughter of Spanish Moon and he is always worthy of respect in these races. He won this in 2020 and in 2021 Swincombe Fleat finished fourth for him so usually, when he runs something in it, he thinks they can be competitive.
This mare won a Tattersalls point to point and she had a subsequent maiden winner back in second. The third has since run well in a class 2 bumper at Newbury so there is substance to that form. Bought for 80k after that win, she admittedly disappointed when sent off the 9/4 fav for her racecourse debut at Ffos Las but she may have needed that after six months off.
It was a lot more like it next time at Plumpton where she got her head in front with Sam Twiston-Davies on board for the first time. The fourth came out and won a bumper on her next start, which is a plus, and Honeyball has enlisted the services of Twiston-Davies again. Others in here have achieved more but there could yet be plenty more to come from Easy Love so back her e/w at odds of 14/1.
