AS is tradition the Paddy Power Imperial Cup (2:25) assumes its role as the starter course before the biggest betting week of the year with Cheltenham now in clear sight.

The sponsors’ bonus is again up for grabs, today’s winner able to land a £50,000 extra if landing any race at the Festival next week, a feat last achieved by David Pipe’s Gaspara in 2007.

The Pond House yard had become synonymous with this race at the beginning of the millennium but has been less successful in recent years. Pipe is represented by two horses today – Leoncavallo and Eamonn An Cnoic – but neither of their profiles (aged nine and 10 respectively) inspire confidence for a double bid.

Bar the two at the top of the market, Natural History and Langer Dan, the remainder of the field look unlikely to trigger the bonus and only eight of the 15 actually have Cheltenham engagements next week.

Lucy Wadham took this with Alarazi 10 years ago and today she runs the consistent Miss Heritage, who finished ahead of Langer Dan at Market Rasen last time yet is five times the price. The mare holds no entry at Cheltenham next week, but will be ridden by “super sub” Richard Johnson and the Newmarket trainer is confident of another big show despite odds of 25/1.

“Miss Heritage is always underestimated,” Wadham said yesterday. “She is solid as a rock and is very consistent. She is a bit unlucky not to have won last time and she is one of those horses that always gives it a good go.

“She is not very big but is really tough and while she is not the most straightforward at home, my head girl rides her all the time and they have struck up a great relationship.

“Bryony Frost was claimed by Paul Nicholls so we have got Richard Johnson who is two out of three this season so hopefully he will be our super-sub again.”

Dan Skelton made his name in big handicap hurdles like today’s contest and it shouldn’t be a surprise punters have latched on to Langer Dan, sixth in last season’s Boodles Juvenile Hurdle, given he really caught the eye with his run behind Miss Heritage at Market Rasen, on his first start in 111 days and after a wind operation.

Skelton said during the week: “We have not put any pressure on him and just let him come to hand. He ran well at Market Rasen on his first start after a breathing operation and that will have helped his confidence.

“I think Sandown will really suit him, as he wants a stiff finish and he didn’t have that at Market Rasen. I’m not saying he is going to win, but he goes there in good health and should run well.”

Natural History, who reached a rating of 101 when owned by Queen Elizabeth on the flat, bolted up at Plumpton last month, prompting a 16lb rise in the weights. Reacting to that his trainer Gary Moore said yesterday: “I thought he was fairly harshly treated for winning a weak race. He probably had it coming though as he was given a low enough mark.

“That is by the by though. He is in great order, whether he is up to that mark we will only find out on Saturday. He has got some proper flat form in the book and a lot of horses like this have won the race. He is very streetwise and battle-hardened and he was very slick over his hurdles at Plumpton.”

A HAT tip to Barney O’Hare, whose Bar One Racing business has over 50 shops closed down on what should be their busiest week of the year next week, but still remains the sponsor of the entire card at Naas tomorrow.

That includes the €80,000 Bar One Racing Leinster National (2:30) which has been well supported with 16 runners, four of which (Class Conti, Saturnas, Dounikos and Fitzhenry) have Grand National entries. One declared runner who is not going to run, in preference of a race at Navan today is Philip Fenton’s Atlantic Shore.

The Tipperary trainer is having his best season since returning to the training ranks after he was given a three-year ban after he was found in possession of anabolic steroids. He has six wins on the board this term, two of which have been provided by Atlantic Shore, who takes on the Grade B Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final (4:30) at Navan today.

Fenton said: “He’s been very good for us so far this season and his form is holding up well. We decided to keep him against the novices instead of going to Naas and “I think he’ll relish the ground today. I’d be hopeful enough of a good run.

“We’d have no more than 10 in. It’s tough going and we’re just thankful for what we’ve got. We’d be hopeful of getting a few more in if we can - that’s all we can do.”