Sunderland Imperial Cup Betting Preview

Although Martin Pipe has farmed the Imperial Cup in recent years, it's Philip Hobbs, successful in the race with Moody Man in 1990, who holds the trump card in this year's renewal at Sandown on Saturday when his charge Motorway, a 12/1 chance with bet365, can capture the prize. The five-year-old - incidentally, the age of four of the last five winners of this race - has been absent since falling here on Boxing Day, which may concern some, in that one might worry if his confidence has been affected. However, he had looked a slick jumper in his previous races and, looking at the positive aspects of his absence, he'll be fresh on Saturday. Indeed, connections must fancy his chances, as it is patently clear that the son of Night Shift has been put away for this before a crack at either the County Hurdle or Coral Cup at next week's Cheltenham Festival where he would be chasing a sizeable bonus if winning this en route. Motorway, who held an entry in the Derby at one point when trained by Roger Charlton on the level, rattled up a hat-trick prior to that mishap over Christmas. He beat Desert Quest, who has subsequently won on no less than four occasions, in a maiden hurdle at Cheltenham in October before proving too strong for Prairie Moonlight (winner of a competitive race since) at Newbury. Motorway then beat another Desert, Desert Air, back at Prestbury Park in a well-contested handicap. The latter franked the form in no uncertain terms when careering away with the valuable Ladbroke Hurdle here in January. Given that the selection is just 9lb higher than when gaining that latest win on December 9, to my mind he could be very well treated indeed. As you would expect of a handicap of this nature, it's competitive. Irish raider Studmaster is generally market leader at the time of writing and, despite the burden of top weight, merits plenty of respect. It would be folly to think that Studmaster isn't still improving and his trainer Jessica Harrington, has her stable in rude health at present. However, I just cannot envisage him being good enough to concede 24lb to Motorway. Another at the right end of the handicap and on an upward curve is Buck Whaley, who dead-heated with Rayshan in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Carlisle and, having been raised just 6lb for that, looks to be off a competitive mark here. He rates a danger, along with stablemate Ursis, who demonstrated a good turn of foot when beating Private Be in a decent heat at Chepstow last time. The Nicky Henderson-trained Tarlac, a Group Three winner on the Flat in Germany, didn't jump particularly well when landing a minor handicap over this course and distance last time. The going was heavy that day, and he will be more at home on what looks sure to be better going on Saturday. But any flaws in his jumping technique will be cruely exposed in this contest, which will be run at a frenetic pace. Of Martin Pipe's entries, I think that Pablo du Charmil might fare best, despite the betting indicating that Nous Voila is the better fancied. Desert Air looks high enough in the weights now, and is actually 5lb worse off with Motorway compared to when being beaten a length and a half by that rival at Cheltenham in December.