Surprise in Imperial Cup Paintball was a 20-1 winner of the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown under Noel Fehily. The Grade Three handicap hurdle had been on the winner's agenda since he was given a breathing operation in December and after creeping along in mid-division, he steamed four and a half lengths clear of long-time leader Nampour. "He wasn't finishing off his races this season so we gave him the breathing operation," said trainer Charlie Longsdon, who was recording the biggest win of his career. "We've had plenty of winners but we haven't had the big Saturday winners yet. This tops it off." Paintball will collect a £75,000 bonus from Paddy Power if he wins again at Cheltenham next week and the trainer added: "He won this off 128 and with his penalty he'd be borderline to get into the County. If he's OK, you'd have to go for it."
