Imperial Cup Trends - Sandown (7 Mar 2026)

In the early years of this race it was considered to be the most important hurdle race of the season and it held that status until the Champion Hurdle was introduced in 1927.

It is run the weekend before Cheltenham and there is a bonus awarded to any horse who wins this and at the Festival. Olympian did the double with the Coral Cup, Blowing Wind did it with the County Hurdle and Gaspara did it with the Fred Winter.

I’ve looked at all runnings this century and in comparison to the last decade to see what the profile of a winner looks like and how that’s changed in recent years.

KEY TRENDS

Preference goes to 5-year-olds
Likely to come from the Top 4 in the betting and respect runners with an SP of 9/2 to 6/1
Carrying no more than 11 stone 4lbs
Officially rated between 128 and 136
Unlikely to have won last time out – probably placed 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th last time out
Likely last ran between 16 and 30 days ago
Probably has won this season
Most winners do NOT wear headgear but the last three did

Focused Trends

AGE

4yo – 2/25 (8%) & 0/10 (0%)
5yo – 10/25 (40%) & 4/10 (40%)
6yo – 6/25 (24%) & 2/10 (20%)
7yo – 2/25 (8%) & 0/10 (0%)
8yo – 3/25 (12%) & 2/10 (20%)
9yo – 2/25 (8%) & 1/10 (10%)

There is no age profitable to back blind this century but you’d be well served to show a preference to 5-year-olds.

In the last decade, 8-year-olds are profitable to back blind but 5-year-olds still hold the highest strike rate.

PRICE

Favourites – 7/25 (28%) & 1/10 (10%)
Top 4 in the betting – 15/25 (60%) & 6/10 (60%)
SP of 9/2 to 6/1 – 5/25 (20%) & 4/10 (40%)

Favourites make money this century but are running at a loss in the last decade. Most winners come from the Top 4 in the betting and in recent years you’d do well to follow runners with an SP of between 9/2 and 6/1.

RATINGS AND WEIGHT

Winners with an OR between 128 and 136 – 15/25 (60%) & 9/10 (90%)
Winners carrying 11-4 or less – 24/25 (96%) & 10/10 (100%)

The bulk of winners held an OR between 128 and 136 with the other winner in the last decade being rated 127.

All bar one winner carried 11 stone 4 or less so this is something that must be considered.

LAST RUN

Won last time out – 7/25 (28%) & 0/10 (0%)
Finished 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th 11/25 (44%) & 8/10 (80%)
Last ran 16-30 days ago – 14/25 (56%) & 7/10 (80%)

There has been no last time out winner taking this race since 2014 although most winners did finished 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th last time out.

Most recent winners last ran between 16 and 30 days ago which appears to be somewhat of a turning trend.

SEASON FORM

Winners who had 2-4 runs that season – 17/25 (68%) & 4/10 (40%)
Winners who had won that season – 16/25 (64%) & 6/10 (60%)

Most winners of this race had run 2-4 times already this season although it seems to be a trend that turning.

A consistent number of winners had won already that season and it shows a £1 loss blind in the last decade but shows a £34 profit if backing to Betfair SP.

HEADGEAR

Winner who were NOT wearing any headgear – 21/25 (84%) & 7/10 (70%)

Most winners of this race were not wearing any headgear however the last three winners were, but none were trying them for the first time.

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