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THE weekend before it all kicks off at Cheltenham is not normally low key and once again there are both some competitive races and useful prize money to be had by connections across several meetings, with Sandown Park being the main port of call.

Of course, the big betting race is the Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (2.25) with the winner set to go on and race at the Festival and try to land a £100,000 bonus.

Several of the leading protagonists are entered next week and so far the ante-post betting for this two-mile handicap hurdle has been as busy as the M25 at rush hour.