Confirmed runners and riders for Saturday's Imperial Cup at Sandown

Aidan Coleman is itching to return to racecourse, having been banned for most of the week, but hopes he can ride his first winner for Peter Fahey in the Betfair Imperial Cup (2.25) at Sandown on Saturday.

The jockey rides Zoffany Bay in the £100,000 handicap this weekend and is optimistic given he made a fine stable debut, and off a 700-day break, when second at Ascot last month.

Fahey won this race with Suprise Package 12 months ago and the Imperial Cup has always the plan for his charge after his promising Ascot performance.

Fahey said: "He ran a cracker at Ascot last time. We were thrilled with him and it has always been the plan to head to Sandown. They didn't go over-quick at Ascot so he was a bit keen and travelling in Aidan's hands.

"I don't think the drop back in trip will be any issue as you need plenty of stamina to win at Sandown anyway, so I think he ticks a lot of boxes. He did a little piece of work at Navan last Sunday and he seems in great form.

"He is quite a similar horse to Suprise Package in that they both have plenty of pace, and it would be brilliant to win it two years in a row."

Fahey will use Coleman's services for only the third time. The relationship officially started when the jockey steered The Big Dog to place in the Welsh Grand National in December, and he now hopes to reward the faith and gain some form ahead of next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Coleman said: "It'll be good to get out and about as I've been banned all week because of the stick – I could do with getting some more practice in before Cheltenham next week. I've been busy with riding out and schooling to be fair along with previews too. I'm never bored.

"I've just picked up a couple of spares for Peter this season, which has been good. It'd be nice to have a winner for him now. Hopefully they'll be one coming along soon enough as he's a great trainer."

Zoffany Bay started his career on the Flat in Britain but recorded his best form, including when winning at Listed level, in France with David Cottin. He showed a liking to testing ground, so the potential of a deluge does not fear Coleman.

He added: "He ran well after a big layoff at Ascot – he hadn't run for 700 days before that. That was a really good run and he did everything well. Peter said beforehand that he was expecting a nice run and he was dead right. He won the race last year with Suprise Package and he's done well with the few he's brought over.

"I'd say we have a nice chance if he can step forward from his run at Ascot but it looks a very competitive race, as you expect the Imperial Cup to be, and the ground could make it a bit of a war of attrition."

Race sponsors Betfair report Playful Saint as the most popular selection in the market and he has now been backed into favouritism for the 18-runner contest.

The eight-year-old has been trimmed to 4-1 (from 10) at the declaration stage. The Dan Skelton-trained runner was an easy winner last time out at Leicester in December, and also chased home next week's Cheltenham Festival contender Love Envoi over this course and distance earlier in the season.

Support has arrived as early ante-post favourite Givega has drifted. The mount of Jamie Moore, who is riding for father Gary, is 3-4 over hurdles and looked like an exciting prospect when winning easily at Sandown in February. His classy stablemate Authorised Speed was not declared, having won earlier in the week.

Metier, back at the scene of his Grade 1 Tolworth win, will top the weights for Harry Fry following the defection of Samarrive. Holetown Hero and the prolific Soul Icon were among the most notable horses not to feature at the declaration stage.

Metier: former Tolworth winner set to carry top weight in Saturday's Imperial CupCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said on Thursday: "It's been a quiet ante-post market but one horse attracting support is Playful Saint. He's been backed from an opening show of 10-1 to 4-1 favourite. The initial favourite Givega is now freely available to back at 15-2."

Elsewhere, the EBF Final (1.50) has again attracted a competitive field with Henri The Second topping the weights in a 17-runner field. The line-up also includes the talented Hugos New Horse, Twinjets and Crambo.

The 2m4f novice handicap chase (3.35), which was moved to Sandown's card after being ditched from the Cheltenham Festival race programme, will feature only six runners including recent winners Easy As That and No Risk Des Flos.

Imperial Cup runners and riders

Metier Sean Bowen
Soaring Glory Jonjo O'Neill
Lightly Squeeze Ben Bromley (5)
Playful Saint Harry Skelton
Givega Jamie Moore
Royale Magaux Ben Poste
Iceo Harry Cobden
Man O Work William Kennedy
Djelo Charlie Deutsch
Punctuation Paddy Brennan
Knickerbockerglory Tristan Durrell (5)
Fine Casting Luca Morgan
Monviel Ben Jones
Hardy Du Seuil Gavin Sheehan
Salsada Jonathan Burke
Zoffany Bay Aidan Coleman
Kellahen Caoilin Quinn (5)
Western Zephyr Sam Twiston-Davies

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