Call Me Lord heads Imperial Cup 29

Call Me Lord heads 29 confirmations for the Matchbook Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson's French import made a successful British debut at the Esher venue last spring and also impressed in a competitive handicap at the track in January.

He was last seen finishing third behind Elgin in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton and will carry top weight of 11st 12lb.

Race sponsors Matchbook are offering a £100,000 bonus for any horse who can win on Saturday and follow up in any race at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager for Call Me Lord's owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: " The plan is to run in the Imperial Cup on Saturday.

"There is the big carrot with that big bonus if everything goes well."

Call Me Lord is one of two potential runners for Henderson along with the hat-trick-seeking Whatswrongwithyou.

Another horse set to chase the Sandown-Cheltenham double is the John Quinn-trained Master Of Irony, who has been given a break since finishing fourth in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury in December.

Quinn told At The Races: "We took him to Ireland a few weeks ago and he just didn't travel great, so we couldn't run him. Then I had him in at Newcastle last week and he didn't run.

"We felt he'd have squeak in the Imperial Cup and this year there's a massive bonus. If he happened to win, he's also in the Martin Pipe (Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle) and the County Hurdle.

"He'll have his chance on Saturday. He's very well and I'm very happy with him."

Other contenders include Dr Richard Newland's Le Patriote, the Evan Williams-trained Silver Streak and Friday Night Light from David Pipe's stable.