Henderson believes conditions will prove ideal for hot favourite Balco Coastal

Saturday: 2.25 Sandown
Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

With a maximum line-up of 22 set to face the starter it will be the biggest Imperial Cup field since 2015, but many punters can’t see beyond the Nicky Henderson-trained hot favourite Balco Coastal.

Winner of three of his five starts, Balco Coastal looks potentially well handicapped off a mark of 134, and the step back to 2m should prove firmly in his favour after he seemed to lack stamina over 2m4½f at Cheltenham last time.

Henderson said: "In the old days you would have run him in both [this and the County Hurdle] when there was a bonus but there isn't one this year. I suspect I'll put him in just in case. To be fair, if he can't win the Imperial Cup then he can't win the County Hurdle!

"Our feeling was at Cheltenham he came to win his race and you thought he was going to win at the last, but it looked to us like he didn't stay. The plan was always to come back to two miles. He's a sharp horse. A sharp-run two miles on a stiff track should be ideal."

Progressive Onemorefortheroad could be well handicapped

Onemorefortheroad made rapid progress last autumn when rattling off a hat-trick at Stratford, Huntingdon and Newbury before finding only Tritonic too good for him in a valuable Ascot handicap before Christmas.

The seven-year-old is only 1lb higher this time and looks to have the scope to make further improvement this spring.

"He's in nice form and we've freshened him up over the winter," said trainer Neil King. "The key to his chance is for the rain to stay away.

"I'd like to think he's still on the right side of the handicapper. The Betfair Hurdle was plan A, but he had a setback and had to miss the race; this is plan B."

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Miranda, Samarrive and Hacker Des Places
Miranda is high in the handicap and doesn’t have many options. She likes it soft. We've had this race in mind for Samarrive since his last run at Ascot in December, a race that came too soon for him after his Sandown win. Hacker Des Places has run very well in his last two races. He needs to step up again but could go well.

Peter Fahey, trainer of Suprise Package
It looks an open race and he travelled over well on Thursday morning. I think the drying ground will help him and hopefully if he runs well we might head on to the County Hurdle next week.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Up For Parol
I wonder if I've been doing something wrong with the trip. Just because he won a point-to-point doesn't mean he wants three miles. He was like a bull in a china shop when I ran him over two and a half miles at Doncaster last season, so we dropped back and he won twice over two miles. He didn't quite get home in the Persian War and ran well enough in the Lanzarote, while he travelled beautifully at Wetherby last time and jumped great, but I wonder if he didn't see it out. Coming back to two miles should help. He's a strong-travelling, good-jumping horse and hopefully there's a bit of rain about.

Dan Skelton: trains Lucky One and Calico at SandownCredit: Mike Egerton (Getty Images)

Dan Skelton, trainer of Lucky One and Calico
Lucky One probably didn’t quite stay at Ascot last time – the front two were pretty superior that day – but the two miles here should be more appropriate. Calico has always threatened to win a big one. We’re putting chasing on hold because of the time of year, but Tristan Durrell is taking 7lb off and I couldn’t say that he’s without a chance.

Gary Moore, trainer of Transatlantic
He's a nice horse, but I don't know a lot about him yet. He seems to go quite well at home. It's a bit of a fact-finding mission really.

Tom Symonds, trainer of Hystery Bere
His Cheltenham run was very good. He got a bit lost coming down the hill but came up it very well. That form looks solid after the Morebattle Hurdle last Saturday. We asked him questions going from Fontwell to Cheltenham, and he answered them well. It's another step up in grade but he has the right profile. We've protected his mark for this race and have enjoyed a nice clear run with him from Cheltenham.

Evan Williams, trainer of Current Mood and Howdyalikemenow
It’s the first time in a handicap for Current Mood and there are easier races we could have run in. She’s a genuine mare and a good one too. Howdyalikemenow ran better than his finishing position suggests at Newbury last time. He would need plenty of rain.

Kim Bailey, trainer of Mr Grey Sky
He ran a good race last time and I'm pleased with him. Every drop of rain will help. He loves soft ground.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Monviel
I hope he's experienced enough to cope in a race like this. It's a step up in grade, but he has a chance off a low weight.

New Sky Bet customers can get £25 in free bets when you bet £5. Free bets awarded each day of the festival and £5 today. New customers only. First single and each-way bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 5 x £5 bet tokens. First £5 free bet credited on bet placement. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.