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English/Ire

Nicholls double-handed in search of another Imperial Cup

“He is lively outsider in a very competitive heat.”

Trainer : Paul Nicholls.
Trainer : Paul Nicholls. Picture: David Davies - PA

Paul Nicholls has landed two of the last six renewals of the Betfair Imperial Cup and will be double-handed in his search for a third recent success, with both Afadil and Nardaran set to take their chances for the fourteen-times champion trainer.

With the classy Flat performer Mondo Man taking out a good chunk of the market for the Gary and Josh Moore team, Paul Nicholls' Afadil is a general 14/1 chance as he bids to go two spots better than when third in this race twelve months ago.

Third over Sandown's course and distance in December, Afadil has since run well on both starts in 2026, shaping nicely at Musselburgh in the New Year before filling the runner-up spot when returning to the Scottish venue last time.

The seven-year-old son of Camelot will now return to Sandown, with Nicholls hopeful of a positive performance on the drying ground.

Speaking on his Betfair blog, he said: "He was third in the Betfair Imperial Cup last year when the ground was testing and it should be a little better this year.

"He ran really well at Musselburgh last time. It is a very competitive race, but he could run ok, he has different ways of running but seems to be in form at the moment and it would not surprise me if he got placed.

"We will confirm him for the County Hurdle, I can't see him getting in, but you cover all options. The Betfair Imperial Cup has been his target, and it is more likely that after running in this he will go to Aintree."

On the chances of outsider Nardaran, who warmed up for this by finishing fifth on the level behind the one and only Constitution Hill, Nicholls added: "He's a big price. He likes better ground, has won at Sandown, probably wants two-and-a-half but you are going to have to stay to win this race.

"He ran very well at Southwell the other day behind Constitution Hill and came fifth, beaten a short head for fourth, so that tuned him up nicely for this run.

"The more the ground dries the better for him. He is lively outsider in a very competitive heat."


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