Sprinter Sacre to go to Cheltenham in search of Victor Chandler Chase success
Nicky Henderson’s 7-year-old, Sprinter Sacre, is not ready to lose determination, as he gears up to travel to Cheltenham in order to participate in the rescheduled Victor Chandler Chase next Saturday. The Grade 1 event was originally due to take place this
week, but because of snowbound Royal Ascot, it was transferred to the exciting Festival Trials Day.
The Mrs Caroline Mould-owned has already entered the Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase, to be held on March 13th. His festival preparations may get hurt because of the delayed Victor Chandler Chase, but there would be still 40-run gap
between the two races.
Henderson said: "Sprinter Sacre will go to Cheltenham next Saturday. I only wanted to get one run into him before the Festival. It's only a week later. It's a fantastic effort by everyone and we're all looking forward it.”
He continued: "It wasn't long ago that moving races like this was unheard of. As soon as it was off Richard Russell (BHA jump race executive) and Stuart Middleton (BHA racing manager) were on to me, as well as Ascot and Cheltenham and everybody under the
sun, all working away, and I said to them: 'If you run it, we'll be there'."
Bred in France by Christophe Masle, Sprinter Sacre has been unbeaten since December 2011. The son of Network started his career with a couple of fascinating wins, but failed to continue in the same fashion when moved to hurdles in November 2010.
He quickly got his act together, and won two consecutive races before only his second defeat at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. He was mighty impressive on last year’s extravaganza, as he beat Cue Card in the Grade 1 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.
He made his seasonal comeback recently at Sandown, where he hardly faced any difficultly in bagging the top prize. The spectators saw him winning the Grade 1 Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase by 15 lengths.
The dashing horse is as short as 2-5 favourite for March’s Champion Chase. Cheltenham is also receiving a lot of snowfall these days, but the track is fully covered. And the clerk of the course, Simon Claisse, is hopeful for the card to go ahead as planned
on Saturday.
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