Race regular can make breakthrough in sub-par renewal

Lithic
1.50 Sandown
1pt each-way at 1pt each-way at 12-1 with BoyleSports (10-1 Betfair)Upswing
2.25 Sandown
2pts win at 5-1 with Coral & HillsGassin Golf
3.00 Sandown
2pts each-way at 17-2 with Coral (8-1 Betway, Boyles, Hills, Ladbrokes)THERE was a time when the Matchbook Imperial Cup (3.00) at Sandown was full of potentially well-handicapped hurdlers and it took some winning, but it's fair to say that's not the case this year.

In 2014 it was won by the 125-rated Baltimore Rock, with Vibrato Valtat in third off 130, while two years ago Ebony Express beat Rayvin Black with Camping Ground in fourth and Thistlecrack fifth on his last run at 2m.

The horse I've deliberately left out was Gassin Golf, who was second three years ago and third in 2015, beaten just a length each time.