Pepe Simo leads Paul Nicholls' double bid

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls could have two runners in Saturday's Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown, after confirming Pepe Simo a definite runner in the £70,000 feature.

Pepe Simo rattled off three victories earlier this season, before he found Champion Hurdle favourite Go Native and company much too good in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

The six-year-old holds entries in both the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

A victory at Sandown would allow him to have a crack at a £75,000 bonus from Paddy Power should he follow up in any race at the Festival.

Nicholls said: "Pepe Simo is a definite runner in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup and we have been waiting for better ground for him, but we've not made up our minds about Pistolet Noir's participation."

Pepe Simo is 7-1 co-second favourite with the sponsors for the Imperial Cup, while Hunterview was this morning cut to 11-2 favourite.

Paddy Power Imperial Cup (Sponsors bet): 11-2 Hunterview, 6 Salut Flo, 7 Pepe Simo, Bellvano, Qaspal, 8 Eradicate, 10 Sway, 12-1 bar