Mole given Imperial go ahead

Ante-post favourite Mr Mole features among a full field of 24 runners for Saturday's Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown.

The Paul Nicholls-trained runner also tops the market for the County Hurdle at next week's Cheltenham Festival and would land a £75,000 bonus if he could win both races.

David Pipe's father, Martin, landed the bonus three times in his training days and Tanerko Emery heads the weights for the Pond House team this time.

Pipe has a second string to his bow in Kazlian, while Nicky Henderson has three chances in General Miller, Lyvius and First In The Queue.

Jonjo O'Neill's Tominator is also prominent in the betting along with the likes of John Ferguson's Pine Creek and the Victor Dartnall-trained Shammick Boy.

Other notable contenders include Claret Cloak and Valdez, but the well-fancied pair of Steps To Freedom and Thunderstorm are eyecatching absentees.

With Steps To Freedom missing the race, Irish interest now revolves around the Charles Byrnes-trained Arnaud.