Imperial Cup report and free video replay | Go Dante lands Sandown thriller

The 5/1 joint-favourite was well-backed close to the off as punters put their trust in the Betfair Hurdle form and the third from Newbury went two places better at Sandown under Sean Bowen.

It didn't look likely for much of the contest as he jumped without fluency in mid-pack, but the testing finish played to his strengths and he reeled in Faivoir on the line after the Dan Skelton-trained horse looked home for all money after jumping the last clear in the lead.

He hung to the rail out in front, giving Go Dante a window of opportunity and he took it with gusto after a flying late lunge and a positive bob of the head at a timely moment.

Jipcot was third under a penalty for Ben Pauling with Making Headway fourth.

Winning trainer Olly Murphy said: “Horse and jockey were both very good there and my best friend (jockey) Harry Skelton has finished second, so it’s a good job I didn’t get a lift down with him.

“It was a great horse race and Faivoir is a tough horse and has won a County Hurdle.

“Go Dante has progressed well and we always thought he was going to be really good and he’s come here today off a mark still in the 120s. I’m not saying I would have been disappointed if he didn’t win, but I thought he was better than his mark just yet to prove it.

“He’s won a good pot today and these are the races you want to win aren’t they.”

No festival date for winner

Go Dante holds entries in both the County Hurdle and Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival, but Murphy will resist the temptation to head to Prestbury Park, instead thinking of one more run elsewhere before a possible chasing campaign next term.

He continued: “The first thing I said to Barbara (Hester, owner) is we won’t be running next week and the only reason I left him in was in case he bolted up.

“He’s a horse who has not underachieved, but he’s had a lot of problems and it’s a big well done to my team at home. He’s been a tough horse to train and he broke his pelvis in a nasty schooling incident. He’s been through the mill this lad.

“I think he will improve for a fence (next year) and I imagine he’ll have one more run over hurdles this year. Where that will be I don’t know, but I would imagine we might have a look at something at Aintree or Punchestown, or maybe the Scottish Champion Hurdle – something like that if it is soft. He’s had a very good year and hopefully he will be a very nice chaser next year.”

Faivoir could bid to defend Cheltenham crown

Despite Go Dante swerving the Festival, it appears the vanquished Faivoir will head to Prestbury Park to defend his County Hurdle crown.

“I think he will go to Cheltenham,” said Skelton. “He’s run very very well and as long as he’s OK – we have six days, it’s not four – I think we have enough time in between to go.

“He’s an older, experienced horse and if he goes to the County Hurdle and it doesn’t work out and he finishes 12th, it’s kind of not a big deal because he will come back. At his age he just gives himself a hard race and wins or nearly wins or he doesn’t. So we’ll give it a whirl.”

More from Sporting Life

• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.