Imperial Saint captaining early hopes for Hobbs and White

Imperial Saint will be back at his beloved Aintree on Sunday, as Philip Hobbs and Johnson White begin to return some of their star names to the track.

It could be an exciting season for the Sandhill duo, who have some smart bumper graduates to unleash over hurdles, but first will send some of last season’s leading lights over the larger obstacles.

Imperial Saint was a three-time winner on Merseyside last season before finishing second in the Freebooter Handicap Chase on Grand National Day and is due to make his comeback at the Liverpool venue in the William Hill Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase for which he is the sponsor’s 9-4 favourite.

He will be followed out of the blocks by Lowry’s Bar, another to thrive last term and who has an early-season trip to Wincanton pencilled in.

“Imperial Saint is on course for the Old Roan Chase and Lowry’s Bar will most likely go for the Badger Beer at Wincanton,” said White.

“They are both in good form and are only seven and there’s no reason for them to not at least maintain there ability, if not improve on what they have shown.”

Amongst those Hobbs and White will saddle to jump obstacles the first time under rules this season will be Sober Glory who built on his taking point-to-point victory to land three bumpers last term, including when scooping Listed honours in the gloom at Newbury in February.

Owned by Brocade Racing, connections resisted temptation to run in deeper waters at the spring festivals, but are hopeful he could develop into a talented operator when taking to the track over timber.

He will lead a smart team of novice hurdlers which will also include the £230,000 son of Harzand, Starzand, who was a 25-length winner between the flags at Dromahane before proving equally as impressive at Ffos Las in a bumper in March.

“He’s all ready to run, but I’m not sure where as we’re waiting on ground for him,” continued White.

“We need some rain, but he’s in great form and I can’t wait to get him going. He’ll start off over two miles and I’m sure he’ll get further in time.”

He went on: “We’ve got a lot to look forward to and as well as Sober Glory we have Captain Hugo, Starzand who might go to Aintree this Sunday and Bobby’s Nelson, who we’ll wait with for a bit more rain, but there’s a smart team to get excited about hopefully.”