Imperial glory for Qaspal

Published: 13 March 2010

Qaspal ended Philip Hobbs' Paddy Power Imperial Cup drought and put himself in the reckoning for a £75,000 bonus when leading home a stable one-two at Sandown.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy wasted down to 10st 3lb and the betting public took notice by sending the JP McManus-owned six-year-old off as the 11-4 favourite.

Qaspal took issue with Oldrik jumping the second-last, but it was only climbing the hill that McCoy drove his mount into the lead and his willing partner rattled off a hat-trick with a two-length success.