Go Dante

He is two for two at Sandown, he has won the last two renewals of the Imperial Cup.  He stayed on well on the good to soft ground there in March to get up and beat Afadil and Knickerbockerglory.  He should be even better today on the softer ground.

He was raised by just 4lb for that win to a mark of 131, and he was dropped by 1lb for his run at Bangor on his return this season.  That was generous, that was obviously a run that would bring him on, presumably with an eye on today.  It was over almost two and a half miles too.  He shapes as if he will stay further, but a well-run two miles on soft ground, ideally at Sandown, is close to optimum for him, and he should get something that is close to all those conditions today.

He is nine now, but this is a race that can go to older horses, two nine-year-olds have won it in the last eight years.  Olly Murphy’s horses are flying and Sean Bowen is obviously top class.

Afadil and Goshen were also on my shortlist, but Go Dante is the bet.

GO DANTE WON (ADV 6/1, SP 11/2)