It is always a good idea to warm up before serious exercise and the 22-runner Imperial Cup at Sandown Park on Saturday is an ideal way to stretch the betting tendons and sinews before the Cheltenham Festival next week.
Balco Coastal, runner-up in a Grade Two novice event last time out, has emerged as favourite and has obvious scope for improvement after just three starts over timber. Nicky Henderson’s form is a slight concern though, as his yard has not sent out a winner since mid-February, and an opening mark of 134 looks no more than fair.
