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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.

Top of the betting shop has been a big move on the old boy Go Dante who has been hugely disappointing this season. He started off his campaign with a very promising fifth behind another of today’s runners, Lump Sum, in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las.

Beaten some five-and-three-quarter lengths that day, the nine-year-old is now fully 17lbs better off with the Sam Thomas trained charge. Still, it requires a lot of faith to row in with the nine-year-old who has been beaten 19 lengths, 18L and 16.5L, as well as a pulled up effort on his three subsequent starts albeit in some of the most competitive handicap hurdles throughout the season.

On the plus side, he is the current holder of the race having won 12 months ago off 129 and is now 2lbs lower with regular jockey, the brilliant Sean Bowen once again in the plate. It could just have been the case that the handicapper was too harsh on him after the 2024 renewal, but despite the support I am happy to look elsewhere.

Favourite Bo Zenith may well have bounced after running a fine third behind Mirabad at Cheltenham following a mammoth 610-day break when he looked desperately one paced at Ascot just over a month later, while Spirits Bay was surely flattered to finish so close behind Constitution Hill in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham last time out.

So the each-way vote goes to HARDY DU SEUIL, who should relish the end to end gallop on this slightly better going. The Jamie Snowden trained runner has been kept fresh this season and there has been absolutely nothing wrong with his two runs, a strong staying second off 130 at Carlisle on his debut followed up by a cracking fifth of 14 behind Secret Squirrel at Windsor in the middle of January. That day he probably made his move a shade too early under young conditional pilot Will Featherstone.

He will have learned plenty enough from that ride and off a one pound lower mark, I expect him to hold onto his mount for a lot longer as the field enter the severe final climb at the Esher track. The selection has a fair record around here with form figures of 173, the middle run being a staying on effort in the 2023 renewal of this race.

With a fair weather forecast, the going at the Surrey track looks sure to be nearer good than good to soft and that is a plus for LUCKY BERE in the opening Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at 1.15.

The son of Seahenge has been placed on all three starts in the UK since coming over from France, and had he not been bumped at the second last flight at Warwick, I fancy that he may well have had the legs of Aviemore in that contest.

In all of his races over here he has been fairly keen, but I think he will settle an awful lot better here with the likelihood that Narragansett will tow the field along at the healthy pace. He has a lovely turnaround in the weights with Melon on their Wetherby form and may reverse the placings, but then prove vulnerable to the market leader in the closing stages.

I am quite keen in the chance of outsider ELYSIAN KNIGHT in the big Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at 1.50. With the enhanced place terms on offer here, none will be firing up the hill as strongly as this six-year-old in the closing stages so at a mighty price he could prove the value call over the likes of George’s Lad and the likely favourite Belliano. The last named cruised to victory over the well regarded Silver Thorn at Market Rasen and may well have been underestimated off a handicap mark of 125 and is the main danger.

The big Mares' Standard Open Bumper looks wider open than the initial betting would suggest and I think we should get a really good run out of PHILIPPA’S CHOICE. The Alastair Ralph charge won very nicely at Huntingdon last time out despite running very green and has any amount of improvement in her.

Away from the Esher track, NED TANNER (4.00) looks the call in the feature Handicap Chase despite being a beaten favourite last time out.

The selection was going like the winner in between the last two obstacles before being outpaced on the long run in by El Elefante and can gain compensation here.

BASHFUL (3.25) can defy top weight and complete the hat-trick in a two-mile handicap hurdle while OUR ZEBO (4.35) looks the each-way call in the Novices Handicap Hurdle when stamina will be at a premium.

The signs that the turf flat season is just around the corner is signalled with the big all-weather warm up meeting at Wolverhampton and the Lincoln Trial Handicap (2.45) kick-starts the card with a good strength in depth field of 13 headed by Kingdom Come off a mark of 103.

However, the six-year-old is going to have to give plenty of weight away to some better treated rivals, the best of which could possibly be LOCAL HERO. Trainer Richard Hannon has a decent record at this meeting and his representative may be able to step up on his eye catching and strong finishing fourth of nine at Kempton Park, where a soft middle pace didn’t suit his run style. With loads of pace on here I expect 3lbs claimer Joe Leavy to weave his way through the pack and pounce late on.

Later on, the Lady Wulfruna Stakes (3.20) has a small but select field and preference is for JABAARA who has just needed time to strengthen up into her frame. The best is surely yet to come from this daughter of Exceed and Excel and back to seven furlongs, she gets the vote over Fair Angellica.