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David Pipe has followed closely in his father Martin's footsteps by targeting the £60,000 Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown Park on Saturday.

The Pond House Team have an outstanding record in this Listed two-mile (3200 metres) contest and this year rely on the seven-year -old Master of Arts.

Bringing back horses after a long lay-off is a Pipe speciality and Master of Arts has not been seen jumping since he finished down the field when strongly fancied for the 2009 JCB Triumph Hurdle, the championship for four-year-olds at the Cheltenham Festival.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has another strong hand with Hinterland and Ted Spread (both leading fancies at the Cheltenham Festival) and the in-form Nicky Henderson stable could run three, Celtus, Dark Shadow and First in the Queue.

Gary Moore has his Sire de Grugy in sparkling form and has also entered Swift Lord and Via Galiei.

Top weight may well be the David Arbuthnot trained Starluck who made a welcome return to form at Wincanton recently behind hot shot Champion Hurdle hopeful Binocular. The six-race card from Sandown, which starts at 2.05pm, also features a Grade 3 race and another Listed contest.

Wolverhampton stage their big meeting of this all-weather season on their Polytrack circuit. The £30,000 William Hill Lincoln Trial is due off at 3.30pm and is run over one mile (1600 metres). The six-race card starts at 2.30pm.

A good quality competitive field is anticipated and Axiom, Light from Mars, Loyalty and Mia's Boy are four likely market leaders.

The five year old License to Till from the ever successful Mark Johnston yard is another expected to feature strongly .