Saturday 13 March
Paddy Power Imperial Cup Day
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If there was a perfect prelude to the Cheltenham Festival then Paddy Power Imperial Cup Day at Sandown Park is almost certainly it.
The Festival supporting WellChild might be just three days away, but this fascinating card - highlighted by the Grade Three Paddy Power Imperial Cup – will have us all concentrating on the here and now.
In years gone by winners of the two mile prize have gone on to glory at The Festival the following week, including Blowing Wind in 1998, who followed up in the County Hurdle, and 2007 winner Gaspara, who backed her win up in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Equally as competitive is the Grade Three European Breeders’ Fund Paddy Power ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, which was claimed in 2007 by subsequent dual Ryanair Chase winner Albertas Run.
There will be two Listed races on the card this year with the Listed Paddy Power Novices’ Handicap Chase, switched from The Festival, joining the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Winners of the Paddy Power Imperial Cup will not be the only ones with a potential outing at Cheltenham, with the Paddy Power Three Sleeps To Cheltenham Juvenile Handicap Hurdle also offering an 11th hour opportunity to creep up the weights ahead of potential Festival engagements.
The Racing & History
Seven races will be taking place on Paddy Power Imperial Cup Day featuring two Grade 3 hurdles and a listed Flat race. The Imperial Cup was first run in 1907 and was considered the most important and prestigious hurdle race of the season right up until the launch of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1927. The likes of Olympian, Blowing Wind and Gaspara have all gone on to win at Cheltenham Festival after winning at Sandown Park.
Order of Running
Time |
Race |
|---|---|
1.15pm |
THE PADDY’S GIVING AWAY £1 MILLION TODAY JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE RACE |
1.50pm |
THE EUROPEAN BREEDERS’ FUND PADDY POWER ‘NATIONAL HUNT’ NOVICES’ HANDICAP HURDLE RACE |
2.25pm |
THE PADDY POWER IMPERIAL CUP HANDICAP HURDLE RACE |
3.00pm |
THE BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF MARES’ STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE |
3.35pm |
THE PADDY’S REWARDS CLUB NOVICES’ HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE |
4.10pm |
THE ‘FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH’ PODCAST HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE |
4.45pm |
THE PADDY POWER ‘3 SLEEPS TO CHELTENHAM’ HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE |
