IF there was a Before The Lord Mayor’s Show, this would be it, the Saturday before Cheltenham, Imperial Cup day at Sandown.

There is no bonus this year for the Paddy Power Imperial Cup winner should he or she go on and win at the Cheltenham Festival, but it’s still a full field. It makes sense that it is too, given that the Imperial Cup carries the same prize money as the County Hurdle and the Coral Cup, and £25,000 more than the Martin Pipe Hurdle.

Contender

Suprise Package is an interesting contender. Winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills Final at the Punchestown Festival last April, Peter Fahey’s horse has shaped on several occasions since as if there should be another good prize in him this season.

He travelled like the most likely winner to the second last flight in the Tara Hurdle at Navan in January, before weakening up the hill at the end of two and a half miles, and he bumped into a well-handicapped mare in Brides Hill in a competitive two-mile handicap hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, but he still ran a fine race to finish second to her.

His British mark of 135 is 6lb higher than his Irish mark, but a fast-run two miles on soft ground could be ideal for him, and James Bowen is a great booking. He could out-run his odds.

That said, Samarrive is proven over today’s course and distance, on good to soft ground at Sandown, and that is a big asset to take into today’s race. Paul Nicholls’ horse put up a career-best performance in winning a listed handicap hurdle on Tingle Creek Chase day at Sandown last December.

He travelled into his race really strongly that day, and he found plenty in front when faced with what looked like a potent challenge from Zambezi Sun, staying on well up the run-in to win by eight and a half lengths in the end.

Forgive

The handicapper raised him by 11lb for that win, and he disappointed in the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot before Christmas, but that was his first run at Ascot, and the race came up just 14 days after he had had a hard race at Sandown. It is easy to forgive him that.

He has been given a nice break since then by his trainer, who has surely had this race in mind for him for a little while, given his proven ability to go well at the track.

The handicapper has dropped him back by 2lb too for his Ascot run and, back at Sandown, over the course and distance over which he put up the best performance of his life on his only run there, he could run a big race.

Peejaybee’s bid

Course form could be key too in the EBF Paddy Power Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final earlier on the day, as Peejaybee is also bidding to make it two for two at Sandown. Richard Spencer’s horse landed a novices’ handicap hurdle over today’s course and distance in February.

He made his ground nicely on the near side that day, and he almost certainly had the measure of Whydah Gally when that rival came down at the final flight.

The race is working out nicely too, with Whydah Gally winning at Fontwell on Wednesday, albeit at a lower level.

Peejaybee went to Sedgefield and won a novices’ hurdle last time. He wasn’t hugely impressive in so doing, but that was over two miles and he was in front from a long way out, which wasn’t ideal, and he was conceding 12lb and more to his rivals, and, even at that, he won with way more in hand than the two-and-a-quarter-length winning margin.

Progress

The handicapper raised him by 7lb for his last win at Sandown, but he won with plenty in hand that day and, a six-year-old who has raced just five times over hurdles, he has the potential to progress again. He should appreciate the return to Sandown, and the step back up to two and a half miles, and the competitive nature of this race, which should allow James Bowen ride him patiently and ideally challenge wide in the home straight, as he did last month.

Knappers Hill is interesting, stepping up to two and a half miles. He is progressive and he was outpaced when they quickened in the Betfair Hurdle last time before staying on into sixth place.

Our Jet is also a danger, a progressive horse of Dan Skelton’s who is on a hat-trick now since his wind operation.

He is progressive, but he is stepping up in grade this afternoon, he is going to have to progress again and, at a bigger price, Peejaybee is a better betting proposition.

Recommended:

Peejaybee, 1 point each-way, 1.50 Sandown, 8/1 (generally)

Samarrive, 1 point each-way, 2.25 Sandown, 11/1 (generally)