Wicklow taking the brave route Ruby Walsh is hoping for a big run from Wicklow Brave in the William Hill Imperial Cup at Sandown Park on Saturday. The six-year-old, who is the only Irish challenger in the field, has been largely disappointing since finishing sixth behind stable companion Vautour in last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle. He has been unplaced in three runs this season, the last two of them when visiting Newbury, where he finished 11th of 23 in the Betfair Hurdle on his latest start The jockey told Racing UK: "I think he has a chance. He ran in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, it ended up being a standing start and I think I was stone last going to the first hurdle and had no chance passing the winning post. "He ran on to finish 10th after nearly being brought down twice. "It's a big, competitive field again. I would have liked better ground, but it is what it is and hopefully he'll run a good race." While the Imperial Cup is a prestigious event in its own right, attracting almost as much attention as the race itself is the £100,000 bonus offered by the sponsors if the winner can follow up in any race at next week's Cheltenham Festival. Wicklow Brave holds an entry in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle.
