Staged at Sandown racecourse the Paddy Power Imperial Cup in a hurdle race run over 2m 1/2f. Run just days before the start of the Cheltenham Festival.
In recent years that incentive has seen powerful stables like Henderson and Hobbs target the race, but it’s the Pipe yard that hold the best recent record – winning the race four times in the last 16 years and 9 times in all.
The last horses to win the Imperial Cup and then go onto land a Festival race the following week are Olympian (1993), Blowing Wind (1998) and Gaspara (2007). While the 2016 winner – Flying Angel – only just failed to land the bonus after running second in the Martin Pipe Conditionals race. Three of the last four winners – Malaya, London Prize and Mr Antolini – didn’t go onto run at the Cheltenham Festival, but the 2021 winner – Langer Dan – was another that only just failed to land the bonus when second in the Martin Pipe Conditional Hurdle race six days later.
Here at RACING AHEAD we take a look back at recent winners and give you all the key stats to take into the 2022 renewal – this year run on Saturday 12th March.
Recent Imperial Cup Winners
2021 – LANGER DAN (5/1)
2020 – Abandoned
2019 – MALAYA (7/1)
2018 – MR ANTOLINI (20/1)
2017 – LONDON PRIZE (10/1)
2016 – FLYING ANGEL (9/1)
2015 – EBONY EXPRESS (33/1)
2014 – BALTIMORE ROCK (7/1)
2013 – FIRST AVENUE (20/1)
2012 – PAINTBALL (20/1)
2011 – ALARAZI (10/1)
2010 – QASPAL (11/4 fav)
2009 – DAVE’S DREAM (12/1)
2008 – ASHKAZAR (10/3 fav)
2007 – GASPARA (11/4 fav)
2006 – VICTRAM (8/1)
2005 – MEDISON (9/2 fav)
2004 – SCORNED (14/1)
2003 – KORELO (9/4 fav)
Imperial Cup Betting Trends and Stats
17/18 – Had won no more than twice over hurdles before
17/18 – Had raced within the last 6 weeks
17/18 – Had won between 1-2 times over hurdles before
16/18 – Carried 10-13 or less
15/18 – Rated 124 or higher
14/18 – Aged 6 or younger
12/18 – Carried 10-7 or less
11/18 – Had won over at least 2m1f (hurdles) before
11/18 – Winners that went onto run at the Cheltenham Festival (1 winner, Gaspara – Fred Winter)
10/18 – Finished in the top two last time out
10/18 – Winning distance – 3 ½ lengths or more
9/18 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
8/18 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
6/18 – Raced at either Cheltenham (2), Sandown (2) or Ascot (2) last time out
6/18 – Won last time out
6/18 – French bred
5/18 – Winning favourites
5/18 – Had raced at Sandown (hurdles) before – 2 had won there before
5/18 – Won by the Pipe stable (have won it 9 times in all)
2/18 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies (2 of last 5)
1/18 – Won by an Irish-trained horse
The average winning SP in the last 18 years is 11/1
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: 16 of the last 18 winners carried 10st 13lbs or less – so the first six on the card – Miranda, Samarrive, Onemorefortheroad, Surprise Package, Mick Maestro and Balco Coastal fall down here. KIHAVAH , however, was a good winner at Musselburgh last time out in a Novice Hurdle and he looks interesting. He’s back into a handicap here but prior to that last run ran Cormier to 9 lengths at Cheltenham and that horse has since franked the form to win last weekend’s Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso. The useful Kevin Brogan has been booked to claim 3lbs too and with only 10st 4lbs in weight could be dangerous off this featherweight. Mr Grey Sky is in good form (2 recent wins) and Up For Parol has won 3 of his 7 hurdles starts for the Jamie Snowden yard to be considered. Balco Coastal only just falls of the weight trend and has some entries at Cheltenham next week, but the other pick is one of the Paul Nicholls runners – HACKER DES PLACES. He won well at Chepstow last time and a 4lbs rise for that looks fair. Jockey Angus Cheleda rides again and can claim a handy 5lbs too. With 10st 13lbs he is bang on the weight stat and represents a yard that won this race in 2019. Of the rest, having won the race 12 months ago, the Skelton runners – Calico and Lucky One – command respect too.
