YOU can understand why Natural History is favourite for this afternoon’s Paddy Power Imperial Cup.

Regally bred (literally), by Nathaniel out of a mare who won a listed race over a mile and a half, he was progressive on the flat for his breeder and for trainer Andrew Balding, winning three times and finishing a close-up second to Euchen Glen in the Group 3 St Simon Stakes last October on his latest run on the flat.