Melling Chase Result: Sacre Sprints to Aintree glory

A step up in distance made little distance to Sprinter Sacre as he turned in another breathtaking performance in the Melling Chase at Aintree...

Nicky Henderson's incredibly talented seven-year-old had stretched his unbeaten record over fences to eight with an imperious display in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but was stepping into the unknown on Merseyside.

Tackling two and a half miles for the first time over the larger obstacles, he was a 1-3 favourite to beat a top-class field including Ryanair Chase winner Cue Card, Irish raider Flemenstar and his own stable companion Finian's Rainbow, winner of this race and the Champion Chase last season.

With Cue Card and Flemenstar disputing the lead throughout, the pace gradually increased and all four of the main protagonists turned in some brilliant leaps heading down the back straight.

Sprinter Sacre was travelling with his usual extravagance in behind and once unleashed by Barry Geraghty, the writing was on the wall for his opponents.

Cue Card admirably stuck to his task, but Sprinter Sacre brushed him aside and safely negotiating the final fence to score by four and a half lengths without coming off the bridle.

Flemenstar was a long way back in third, with Finian's Rainbow, who was sent to the front by Tony McCoy leaving the back straight, fading into fourth.

Geraghty said: "He was brilliant. I suppose I could have done with going a little bit quicker.

"He travelled a bit too well and I had to take him back a few times to make use of his jumping. Because of the distance I didn't want to get to the front too soon.

"He was more relaxed than at Cheltenham, but we didn't go quick. He tanked a little. He was very manageable, he wasn't wanting to do anything silly like tear off with me. He was very co-operative and a real gentleman.

"When you let him loose like at the second-last he does it too easily.

"The two and a half miles didn't make any difference. He has plenty of pace and is very versatile."

Henderson said: "He's just a natural athlete. He's got a huge amount of ability and knows how to use it.

"I don't think anybody has taught him about jumping. It is sheer natural talent and it's good to watch when it's over.

"As Barry says that is probably as far as he wants to go. He gets two and a half but he doesn't need any more. It gives him options."

Henderson was not completely ruling out a quick return at Punchestown on April 23, adding: "I'm not ruling it in or out, I sort of think I'd like to show him to the people in Ireland one day.

"He's not had hard races has he. Let's see how he comes out of this."

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Maghull Novices' Chase: Sprinter Sacre scares off rivals

Latest News / Timeform / 13 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Sprinter Sacre surely can't be beaten on Saturday

Sprinter Sacre will face just three in the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree on Saturday...

Sprinter Sacre, a brilliant winner of the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, will attempt to take his unbeaten run over fences to five in the John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree.

The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding looks untouchable on Saturday according to Timeform ratings (see below) and trades at around [1.16] on Betfair.

Barry Geraghty will be on board and has always spoken of Sprinter Sacre in glowing terms.

"When he broke the course record at Newbury that was a bit of a warning shot of what was to come, but he was brilliant at Cheltenham," he told At The Races.

"It's hard to say he's the best I've ever ridden as he's unexposed over fences so far, but he's the most natural jumper. I've never ridden a horse who does it so easily.

"Touch wood he's so accurate with his jumping, they don't come much better than that."

Timeform Weight-Adjusted Ratings
191p SPRINTER SACRE
155 KUDU COUNTRY
154 TOUBAB
153+ AUSTRALIA DAY

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Arkle Chase: Sprinter Sacre set for challenge

News / Timeform / 12 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Sprinter Sacre is favourite for the Arkle Chase

"He's looked like a horse we hope might be a bit special."

Nicky Henderson is hoping Sprinter Sacre can succeed where stablemate Finian's Rainbow failed in Tuesday's Arkle Chase at Cheltenham...

Sprinter Sacre is set to face just five rivals in the two-mile Arkle Chase for novices, and arrives on the back of three ultra-impressive wins over fences.

The six-year-old was an easy scorer on his debut at Doncaster in December before demolishing former top-class hurdler Peddlers Cross at Kempton over Christmas, although the runner-up was found to have problems afterwards.

A six-length win in record time in Newbury's Betfair Super Saturday Chase last month sealed his reputation as red-hot Arkle favourite.

However, Henderson is concerned that his keen style of racing could work against him, as it did with Finian's Rainbow who could finish only second in the Arkle in 2011.

"He's looked like a horse we hope might be a bit special. He hasn't beaten anything, but you have to look at his times. He beat the course record at Newbury and he was just beating the clock all on his own," said Henderson.

"He's a classy, good-looking horse and I think he knows it.

"The one worry is that Finian's Rainbow tried to do the same thing last year (go off quickly) and he got mugged. But Sprinter Sacre is a two-miler through and through."

Sprinter Sacre himself was beaten at last year's Festival when third to Al Ferof in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, but the Seven Barrows handler expects him to fare better up the famous Cheltenham hill this time.

"I'm not quite sure why he didn't get up the hill last year, but I think he will (this time)," Henderson added.

Barry Geraghty again takes the mount, and makes no secret of the regard in which he holds him.

He said: "He seems to have it all, he has pace, and he jumps really well. He has so much scope, he ticks every box.

"I have no doubts (about the hill), he ran keen last year and was probably in front earlier than ideal.

"He may get to the front early this year as well, we'll have to wait and see, but with age on his side and the way he jumps I don't think the hill will be an issue.

"It's a very hot race, there's no doubt about that, but this fellow is the most exciting horse I've ridden since Moscow Flyer. He's hard to describe he's so good."
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Betfair Super Saturday Chase: Sacre faces five at Newbury

News / Timeform / 16 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Newbury stages the Betfair Super Saturday Chase.

"He just has such scope and he can do extraordinary things..."

Sprinter Sacre steps out of novice company for the first time in the rescheduled Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury on Friday...

The two-mile-one-furlong prize has attracted six runners, headed by this Nicky Henderson-trained superstar.

After turning in a superb round of jumping on his fencing debut at Doncaster, Sprinter Sacre pummelled Peddlers Cross at Kempton to leap to the head of the ante-post betting for the Arkle at Cheltenham next month.

"He's done what we've asked him and he was a very good novice hurdler, plus bumper horse plus everything," said Henderson.

"One always rather hoped that when he got jumping fences you might see something a bit special and he has been so far.

"He just has such scope and he can do extraordinary things."

Henderson has an interesting second string in French Opera, who won this race 12 months ago but has not been seen since winning last year's Celebration Chase at Sandown.

Perhaps Sprinter Sacre's biggest danger is Hold Fast, who earned this step up in class with a runaway victory in a Sandown handicap.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is keen to learn whether the eight-year-old is a serious contender for the Champion Chase.

"He's going the same route as Master Minded took in his first season - I'm not saying he's Master Minded or anything like that but Friday will tell us whether we go for the Champion Chase or the Grand Annual," said Nicholls.

"He'll improve, but Ruby (Walsh) keeps saying he needs to go right-handed, but then he used to keep saying that about Master Minded as well."

Zaynar comes back in distance having run well in an Ascot handicap last month, while I'm So Lucky looks up against it having run down the field in the VC Chase on the same afternoon.

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