Top Jimmy set to rule in Imperial Cup at Sandown

TOP Jimmy can secure victory in the Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.27pm) at Sandown this afternoon - but he won’t be able to have a crack at the bookmakers’ £100,000 bonus at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

- 

Nigel and Willy Twiston Davies’ six-year-old can win the feature at the Esher track but as he doesn’t have any entries at Prestbury Park next week he won't be able to land the bonus for also triumphing at the Festival.

The Twiston-Davies’ stable have won this prestigious two-mile handicap a couple of times in the past with Flying Angel in 2016 and Mr Antolini a couple of years later. They usually do well in these type of handicap hurdles and Top Jimmy looks capable of outrunning his double-figure odds.

The six-year-old, who was formerly trained by Fergal O’Brien in two bumpers, joined the Twiston-Davies’ Naunton yard in September last year and was quickly off the mark when scoring over this minimum two-mile distance at Uttoxeter in October.

He backed that up with another success at the Midlands venue later that month, scoring by five lengths in a Novices’ Hurdle when stepped up to 2m4f.

He had no answer to the smart No Drama This End - the Paul Nicholls’ five-year-old is among the favourites for glory at Cheltenham next week - in the Grade Two Winter Novices’ Hurdle over 2m4f at Sandown in December, finishing third.

But Top Jimmy looks a progressive young hurdler and lost nothing in another defeat when second to Olly Murphy's Scorpio Rising in another 2m4f Handicap Hurdle, only going down late on after leading coming to the final flight at Windsor in January.

He is up to a handicap mark of 128, but that looks fair based on his form and he is still open to more improvement on just his fifth start over obstacles.

The drop back in trip to two miles should suit and he can go very close to winning this always-competitive contest.

As ever there are plenty of dangers with Olly Murphy's Go Dante likely to make a bold bid for a third successive victory in the Imperial Cup.