Today’s Imperial Cup (3pm) at Sandown has attracted a mere 13 combatants but it’s still a nice prize to win and despite ‘jolly’ Fixe Le Kap having been backed into 9-2 (from 8-1), London Prize can scoop just that (all right, Sandown’s just outside Zone 6 but give or take).

Unlike some of the other runners who will be trying to land this contest and then go on to Cheltenham for a £50,000 bonus if they land any race at The Festival, this looks like this lad’s cup final as he has no entries at Prestbury Park.

He cleverly won a novices’ hurdle at Leicester in December before going down a fag paper in a similar event at Market Rasen on Boxing Day.

Admittedly he took a tumble last time at Musselburgh last month, but that was his first start in handicap company over hurdles and he had still to be asked for an effort before departing at the fourth last.

As long as there are no mental effects from that fall, and it doesn’t appear as if there are as he has since finished runner-up on the flat, he could go close off a mark of 128 which could be a tad generous.

Hopefully, Worcestershire wizard Ian William’s charge will give us a tank to go into next week’s Cheltenham Festival with and Messire Des Obeaux has banker credentials in Wednesday’s Neptune Novices’ Hurdle (1.30pm).

Some in Barbury Castle conjuror Alan King’s yard reportedly thought this could be their best horse this season which is some statement given that they also house big Champion Hurdle hope Yanworth.

After wins at Bangor (must have been some certainty that day) and Sandown, the selection won the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury in convincing fashion on a day in which he really underlined his Festival credentials.

The bubble was slightly burst last time when he just got pipped by Keeper Hill at Huntingdon, but given that that track is unlikely to suit him and he was giving the runner-up 8lb, he was most definitely the best horse in the race even though he didn’t enter the winner’s enclosure.

Tombstone also looks to have a massive shout in the same day’s Coral Cup (2.50pm) after connections decided not to supplement him for the previous day’s Champion Hurdle after his four length defeat of Jezki last month in Ireland.

Ryanair supremo Michael O’Leary was up in arms about UK handicapper Phil Smith’s weighting of his horses in the Grand National, but Smith might well receive an upgrade from the budget airline next time he travels after this piece of generosity.

No doubt Meath magician Gordon Elliott and connections were rubbing their hands with glee upon seeing Tombstone allotted just 11st 5lb for this event and he looks a real handicap blip.

Thursday’s Champion Bumper (5.30pm) can go the way of Warren Greatrex’s Western Ryder, who is part owned by golfer Lee Westwood. His trainer’s not a fan of the race but thinks he’s tailor made for it.