Sunderlands Imperial Cup Handicap betting preview

Everyone's got one eye on next week's Cheltenham Festival, and rightly so. This year's renewal of the four-day spectacular looks set fair to be hugely enthralling, the centrepiece of which in my opinion is the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday - it's arguably the most competitive running of the contest in many a year. However, before the festivities our attention is turned to Sandown this weekend when the valuable Sunderland Imperial Cup takes place. This contest will no doubt be run at a searching pace and, with the ground forecast to be testing, a real war of attrition is likely to ensue when heads are turned for home up the taxing hill at the Esher venue. Gaspara heads the market following two decisive victories in novice hurdles since arriving from France. David Pipe, who is enjoying a fantastic season in his first at the helm at Nicolashayne, will be hoping that he's inherited his father's knack at landing this race. Indeed, Martin sent out the winner of this four times in the last nine years. But this will be a completely different test for Gaspara. Admittedly, the form of her victory last time out looks sound and she does get in here with a feather weight, but taking in battle-hardened handicappers in what will be a fiercely-run race will be a world away from doing the business in relatively minor novice events. Pipe has three additional entries at the time of writing - Osana, Lunar Crystal and Laustra Bad, the last-named being the most interesting of the trio - but I reckon that they will all struggle to contain the strong Irish raiding party, the pick of which may well prove to be Lenrey, who can be backed at 12/1 with bet365. His trainer, Arthur Moore, who sent out Regency Rake to capture this event in 1999, has kept the seven-year-old relatively fresh, giving him just two outings during the current campaign, seemingly priming his charge for this and potentially a crack at the County Hurdle on the last day of the Festival. Indeed, a big bonus lies in wait if a horse can prevail here and also strike at Cheltenham. The selection won with his head in his chest at Fairyhouse in December when beating Artist's Muse by three and a half lengths in a competitive heat. Consequently, Lenrey went off as co-favourite for the prestigious Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 14, but was given a funny ride by Davy Russell, who held the gelding up at the back of the 30-strong field and never really appeared to get serious with his mount. That effort is best forgotten and if he reproduces what he showed when scoring on his penultimate start then he'll be hard to beat. Fellow Emerald Isle challenger Farmer Brown, who ended a sequence of second-place finishes when getting the better of Well Mounted at Leopardstown last time out, rates a live danger. Pat Hughes' charge, a leading hope for the County Hurdle next week, will relish the conditions and should be in the shake-up at the very least. That remark also applies to Stoneraker, who is improving with racing and might not be in the handicapper's grip just yet despite being hit with significant hikes following his last three victories. The best chance of a winner for the home brigade could well lie with Dempsey, a classy chaser who loves this course and is potentially well treated based on his hurdles form. The Ian Williams-trained Livingonaknifedge hacked up at Bangor the other day and is well ahead of the assessor with just a 4lb penalty to burden. He should go well, but may find one or two too good. Verdict - 1pt Lenrey @ 12/1 (bet365)