Milligan looks ready for some Cup glory

Martin Pipe, of course, is a past master at pocketing big-money bonus prizes. He collected this one with Olympian in 1993 and Blowing Wind five years later. This year, from an uncharacteristically restrained entry of four horses, he fields three candidates - Valiramix, Copeland and Miss Fara.

Unusually for a top-weight of his, Valiramix looks Pipe's best shot. He's a proper mudlark so the likely heavy conditions won't trouble him, as his Ascot victory last December proved. He's flattered by his 20-length drubbing of subsequent Tote Gold Trophy winner and Champion Hurdle contender, Landing Light, who was then unfit.

But he meets Rooster Booster on 6lb better terms than when looking distinctly second best behind the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding at Newbury last November until that star-crossed rival fell two out, allowing Valiramix to unhurriedly collect. It will be a close-run thing between this pair tomorrow.

If there's a horse who deserves already to have won at least one big handicap this season, it's Rooster Booster. He fell at Newbury behind Valiramix, was then seriously hampered when making his challenge in Leopardstown's Pierse Hurdle and last time had the misfortune to encounter a rival of the calibre of Landing Light.

But he keeps creeping up the ratings without reward and again looks vulnerable to Milligan, a running-on third in that Tote Gold Trophy. Venetia Williams' charge has a length-and-a-half to find on Rooster Booster on that form and a 2lb pull at the weight to do it with, including top conditional rider Brian Crowley's 3lb claim. That was also Milligan's first run for almost three months and he is entitled to strip fitter tomorrow.

He doesn't, as often stated, need a firm surface to be at his best. Two excellent efforts at Newbury this season came on a testing surface - when third to Landing Light in soft ground last time and when filling the same position behind Male-Ana-Mou and Mr Cool on a heavy surface last November. He's open to further improvement for his shrewd handler and appears the value wager.

Unbeaten novice Dibea Times is the unknown quantity. Trainer Malcolm Jefferson, who also trains high-class Dato Star, reckons he's Champion Hurdle class, so this neat hurdler's claim must be respected from a mark of 138. Copeland will be on the premises, if reproducing his Tote Gold Trophy effort.

Imperial Cup selections: 1, Milligan (nap); 2, Valiramix; 3, Rooster Booster; 4, Copeland.