WILLIE Mullins has cracked so many of Britain’s biggest prizes but the Betfair Imperial Cup (2.25) is one he has yet to get his hands on. Could that be set to change this afternoon?

Sandown was a lucky landing spot for the Closutton maestro last spring, wrapping up the British trainers’ title with a Bet365 Gold Cup triumph on the final day of the season, and 8/1 shot Batman Girac will bid to strengthen Mullins’ big handicap record at the Esher track today.

Only once before has the record-breaking trainer had a runner in the Imperial Cup. That came 10 years ago when Wicklow Brave was left at the start, never travelled and was pulled up before the last by Ruby Walsh.

There was a memorable turnaround in fortunes for that extremely admirable campaigner the following week at Cheltenham, however, when springing a 25/1 surprise under Paul Townend in the County Hurdle. He bolted in by eight lengths.

Batman Girac, set to be ridden by J.J. Slevin, is rated 135. That is only 3lb lower than Mullins’ last runner in the race, but he can’t be said to have established himself to anything like the level Wicklow Brave had done.

Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s five-year-old was in the process of staying on to challenge for minor prize money on his most recent start, though, when taking a heavy fall at the last in the valuable Dublin Racing Festival handicap hurdle won by McLaurey.

Standout form

A case can be made that he is on a workable mark if able to build on the type of run that saw him finish fourth in a Christmas Grade 2 at Leopardstown last season behind Kala Conti (Timeform rating of 143), dual Grade 1 winner Kargese (Timeform 144) and Galway Hurdle scorer Nurburgring (Timeform 149).

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to Munir and Souede, said: “It’s a bit of a speculative run and he’s not been an easy horse in his career as he pulls so hard, but he was running an encouraging race with J.J. at the Dublin Racing Festival when he came down at the last.

“He might have run on into a place and we just felt the Imperial Cup offered a slightly easier chance than the County Hurdle and we would roll the dice and see how we got on.

“There’s not many two-mile handicap hurdles in Ireland, but two in a week here in England and of the two this felt the best option to try.

“The County looks much tougher and the prize money on offer at Sandown is very attractive, so we have decided on this one rather than the County where it could be very difficult and he definitely wouldn’t be his current price.

“It’s a bit speculative, but the horse is fine after his fall and fit and well and we will see how he gets on.”

Back for more

Nicky Henderson’s Bo Zenith is among the leading fancies for this year’s renewal, as well as Olly Murphy’s 2024 scorer Go Dante, who is now 2lb lower than when winning the same event 12 months ago.

“He’s in very good form and has been trained for the race,” said Murphy.

“I would have loved a bit more rain around because the softer the ground the better he is, but it’s just the way it is and he handles good to soft.

“He just hasn’t reproduced his form from last year yet this season and he has actually disappointed me on a few occasions. He showed a little bit more at Newbury the last day and a little bit to a point at Windsor beforehand, but we have been hoping going to an old stomping ground in Sandown will suit.

“It looks a competitive race as always, but he couldn’t be in better form and I think he’s got a good each-way chance.”

A £100,000 bonus is on the table for any horse able to follow up an Imperial Cup win by scoring at Cheltenham next week, and Sam Thomas hasn’t ruled out attempting the famous double with Lump Sum.

It was a cracking effort from the smart two-miler when second to ready William Hill Hurdle heroine Joyeuse last time at Newbury.

“He had a lot of weight last time and this is another big ask but if he is in the same sort of form as Newbury, he should go well,” said Thomas.

“He does hold an entry in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, but he started way back in October so he has had a long season. However, that will be a discussion we have with the boss [Dai Walters, owner] should he win at Sandown.

“He has got to carry a lot of weight, which will make it hard, but it is great to have a horse to compete in races like this.”