Sprinter Sacre up against Cue Card and Flemenstar in John Smith´s Melling Chase at Aintree
Nicky Henderson’s 7-year-old bay and brown gelding, Sprinter Sacre has stepped into an entirely different territory, as he enters the Grade 1 John Smith´s Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday. No easy opposition is waiting for the two-miler, who will face
the greats like Cue Card and Flemenstar over a distance of two miles and four furlongs. Despite so many risks and threats, his connections are really confident, and believe that the son of Network will be able to cope with the set up in trip.
Henderson, who trains Sprinter Sacre for Caroline Mould, said: "We said we'd stick to two miles, but we sat back after Cheltenham and thought about this. Barry [Geraghty] is perfectly happy about it. Of course they are two completely different tracks, but
he keeps bouncing up that hill at Cheltenham, even in soft ground, so I can't help feeling he stays.”
"His pedigree says he will, it's just his style of racing that was influencing us before. This race is most certainly stronger than the Champion Chase and I'd nearly say it's the best race of the season, which is scary enough."
Sprinter Sacre has been unbeaten since December 2011. He stretched his unbeaten streak to eight starts last month, when cruising to a comprehensive 19-length triumph in the Grade 1 Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. In the hands of Barry
Geraghty, the 1-4 favourite convincingly defeated Sizing Europe to bag the first prize worth £208,300.32.
Cue Card is also flying high after the Cheltenham victory. In the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy Chase), the Colin Tizzard-trained got the better of the 2-1 favourite, First Lieutenant, easily by nine lengths. Flemenstar is also
determined to put his campaign back on the winning ways after a couple of unlucky defeats.
After seven successive victories, the Peter Casey-trained lost his winning rhythm, and finished third in last December. His unlucky journey continued this year, as he missed the crown only by 1¾ lengths in the Grade 1 Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown. With
three big guns in the line-up, a thrilling battle is on the cards.
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