Saturday’s Imperial Cup betting preview: Latest runners, riders, odds and trainer quotes for the final field
FIFTEEN go to post for the Imperial Cup and it's as competitive as ever.
We've put together all the important info to help you find that winner.
1. Call Me Lord - Nicky Henderson/Daryl Jacob (15-2)
High-class performer who bolted up in a Grade 2 here last spring.
Flopped when favourite for the Long Walk and has to concede plenty of weight, but it would be no surprise if he was up to the task.
Anthony Bromley on Call Me Lord
"Nicky says he has taken a while to come to hand this spring and he is just starting to come right now.
"I hope Call Me Lord will put up a good show and if he was lucky enough to win, we would consider going for the bonus at Cheltenham next week in either the Coral Cup or the County Hurdle.
"However, this is almost like his first run of the season and it's probably more realistic to hope he'll run a nice race and then we can look for something at Aintree for him."
OUT & ABOUT WITH ANDY Don't miss Andy Ayres' brilliant Trackman column
2. Speredek - Nigel Hawke/Tom Buckley [10] (20-1)
Better known as a classy chaser and reverts to hurdles off a decent mark.
Rider takes off a further 10lbs, so he could go well at a decent price on ground he likes.
Nigel Hawke on Speredek
"On his last run over hurdles he was second to the good mare of Nicky Henderson's (Verdana Blue).
"He's definitely a better horse over fences, but at the same time he's not a bad hurdler.
"He had a bad fall over fences last time, but he's been absolutely fine with him and we're limited as to where we can go with him as he needs to go right-handed and wants soft ground. The softer the ground is on Saturday, the better it will suit him.
"He's rated 153 over fences and 146 over hurdles. We wanted to take as much weight off him as possible and with Tom's (Buckley) 10lb claim he's almost 20lb well-in compared to his chase mark.
"Tom is based with me and rides Speredek a fair bit at home, so he knows him well, and every pound counts."
3. First Flow - Kim Bailey/David Bass (9-1)
Exciting hurdler makes his return from almost a year off the track.
He has his ground conditions and he is surely better than a mark of 144 - the only worry is a lack of a prep run.
4. Blu Cavalier - NON-RUNNER
5. Chti Balko - Donald McCain/Will Kennedy (20-1)
Generally held his form well this winter but flopped when ninth behind Benny's Bridge last time.
Dropped 5lb for that and on a fair mark now, but others are more convincing.
6. Dream Du Grand Val - Nicky Henderson/Nico De Boinville (7-1)
Impressive winner of a pair of novice hurdles at Fontwell and Kelso.
This is a much stiffer test but he could prove well-handicapped off 139.
Anthony Bromley on Dream Du Grand Val
"He's a novice who has won a couple of low-key races.
I was surprised to see him go up 6lb for winning at heavily odds-on at Kelso.
I'm not sure a mark of 139 is a fair assessment of his form, but we'll find out on Saturday.
"He also has options at Cheltenham in the County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe (Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle), so we'll see how he goes."
7. All Yours - Sean Curran/Gavin Sheehan (50-1)
Grade 1 winner back in the day, but he has been off the track for over 1000 days.
Impossible to fancy on the back of such a long lay-off.
OUT & ABOUT WITH ANDY Don't miss Andy Ayres' brilliant Trackman column
8. Solomon Grey - Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton (12-1)
Put a Doncaster flop behind him with a solid second in the Lanzarote at Kempton in January.
A 6lb rise for that performance makes life tough here, though.
9. Malaya - Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden (6-1)
Smart mare met trouble in running when fourth in a hot handicap at Ascot.
She travelled strongly through that race and could be dangerous dropped 1lb.
10. Storm Rising - Dr Richard Newland/Charlie Hammond [5] 16-1
Won his first two starts this season and not disgraced in the Greatwood Hurdle.
Dropped 2lb and he could hit the frame on his return to action.
11. Totterdown - Richard Phillips/Daniel Hiskett [5] (20-1)
Made all for an impressive success over C&D in November.
Running well off higher marks since then but looks up against it for win purposes.
12. Pyromaniac - Alastair Ralph/Sam Twiston-Davies (25-1)
Had some good form for Tony Martin a couple of years ago.
Generally had a quiet times of things recently, but he's worth a precautionary check in the betting.
13. Extra Mag - David Pipe/Tom Scudamore (9-1)
Lightly-raced five-year-old bumped into a potential top-notcher at Kempton last time.
That rival bolted up at Sandown on Friday and an opening mark of 134 could underestimate him.
OUT & ABOUT WITH ANDY Don't miss Andy Ayres' brilliant Trackman column
14. Monsieur Lecoq - Jane Williams/Chester Williams [7] (5-1)
Progressive five-year-old ran out an impressive winner over C&D last time.
Gets in off a featherweight and should make a bold bid despite hike in the weights.
15. Our Merlin - Robert Walford/Bryony Frost (25-1)
In decent heart before taking a tumble at Cheltenham in January.
A strong suspicion that the handicapper has his measure at present.
16. Benny's Bridge - Fergal O'Brien/Paddy Brennan (8-1)
Given an expert waiting ride when landing the odds at Cheltenham last time.
Had a couple of these in behind that day but this is much tougher from out of the weights.