Caoilin Quinn and Mondo Man survived high drama at the final hurdle as class prevailed in the Betfair Imperial Cup at Sandown – but a Royal Ascot bid could be more likely than seeking a quickfire bonus at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Am expensive recruit from the flat having been fifth in the French Derby in 2024 before running behind Calandagan at that year’s Royal meeting, Mondo Man has always been held in high regard, finishing not far behind Lulamba on his hurdling bow before running in the Adonis and Triumph Hurdle last term.

Gary and Josh Moore’s five-year-old arrived at the Esher circuit as the 5/2 favourite after a confidence-boosting victory at Plumpton recently and quickly set about attempting to prove his class from the front.

It looked a plan set to be executed to perfection as Mondo Man headed to the last with a clear advantage – but it was there that Quinn almost exited through the side door after an untidy leap.

The rider was left to boot home Mondo Man without his irons as he held on from the fast-finishing Wreckless Eric, who was second for the second year running for Jonjo and A.J O’Neill.

Gary Moore said: “It was an amazing performance and I didn’t really want to run because of the ground, the only reason he is running is because he has class.

“I was devastated when I saw he was having to make the running, it wasn’t my plan, but it was Caoilin’s and he stuck to it and it came off – he was very stylish after the last wasn’t he!”

There is a £100,000 bonus on offer should the Imperial Cup winner follow up in any race at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, Moore was non-committal about an appearance at Presbury Park, instead posing possibilities for the flat later in the year.

Moore added: “I’ll have to speak to the owners and it will depend how he comes out of the race as he has had a hard race today. It’s tough to make all round here on heavy ground and come out fresh enough to go again next week.

“He was bought to run on the flat as well and he met with an injury last season which is why he wasn’t seen on the flat after Chester, so there could be some nice options for him.

“I would like to see him run in the two-mile race at Royal Ascot (Ascot Stakes). He was bought to run in the Triumph Hurdle and then go to Royal Ascot and he’s run in the Triumph now, just not very well.”

Explaining the heart-stopping moment at the last, winning rider Quinn said: “I didn’t look round and was just kicking forward, so I didn’t know how far I was clear.

“It’s tough conditions and I didn’t want to go looking for a long one and do anything stupid so I just wanted to get in pop it and get out the other side.

“He went one way and I went the other! Luckily I stayed aboard him and he showed plenty of guts to keep galloping. He’s showed now he is settling he has the attitude to knuckle down.”

He added: “It wasn’t too difficult to get him home after the last, it was kind of going back to my roots riding ponies round the fields, it’s a brilliant day.”

The Moores and Quinn quickly doubled-up when Ti’mamzel (8/1) notched a second listed success of the season in the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

She will now head to Aintree’s Grand National Festival to run in Grade 2 company, with Josh Moore saying: “We ran her in a listed race first time out as we knew she was good, she’s always been very professional.

“The only concern today was she was giving everything 4lb in heavy ground, but she’s a big strong mare. Aintree is the plan for her next and see how she gets on there.”

Scorpio Rising wins again

Olly Murphy could be tempted to run the ever-improving Scorpio Rising at the top level before the season is out after bringing up an impressive four-timer in the European Breeders’ Fund Betfair “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final.

Typically seen as a race for chasing prospects of the future, the 9/2 joint-favourite fits the bill with his handler eager to see what he can achieve next season over the larger obstacles.

But he could now test his mettle against some of the best of the 2025-'26 class at Aintree, having travelled into contention in supreme style under Sean Bowen, before being driven on to a two-and-three-quarter-length success.

Murphy said: “I thought he was progressive, but I didn’t think he was that progressive and he’s just got better with racing and he’s a good horse. He’s won four on the bounce now which is brilliant.

“He’s turned a competitive field into a rout really and it was great – he’s going to be a lovely chaser.

“We’ve been playing around this year and minded him and this has been the plan for a while. Whether we look at something at Aintree now or even Ayr or Punchestown, they are all possibilities, but I’m very much looking forward to him jumping a fence next year as I think he will be a smart one.”

He added: “We could well look at a Grade 1 novice, but for now I wouldn’t be going an inch above two and a half miles. I thought he was travelling too strong and I was half-cursing he was doing too much as round here I think it helps if you half-race lazily.”

Murphy can now look forward to welcoming an extra-special visitor to his Warren Chase base on Sunday, with Gordon Elliott’s Champion Hurdle hopeful Brighterdaysahead set to take up lodgings at the Warwickshire stables in a change of tack from connections ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.

“She arrives on Sunday and Gordon was good for me for five or six years so it’s the least I can do,” continued Murphy.

“We’re jam-packed at ours, but we’ve snuck her in and I’ll do anything to help Gordon. I haven’t got a runner in the race, Gordon asked would I have her and of course it was no problem.

“He has done the same when I’ve taken horses to Ireland and I had some fabulous years with him in Ireland, so hopefully it helps.

“Hopefully she will settle in well and fingers crossed for Gordon and Gigginstown she runs well.”