2015 Champion Chase

[Lessey]

I agree SdG showing himself to be much improved at Chepstow has shaken it up somewhat. My only concerns would be if the benefit of a run to remove the rust does that for SdG, what's it gonna do for SS on his next outing?

In the photos from seven barrows today he looked phenomenal, back to being a race fit animal and if he could come on in similar fashion to how SdG did second time out then 3/1 could look huge at about 4pm Wednesday

[Hoof]

Sprinter Sacre

We were happy going into Ascot, not that everybody believed us, and we were happy afterwards. We hoped that he’d win, but you can’t force it to happen and we just wanted the race to bring him on and it has. He’s done very well since then, physically and probably mentally as well. Everything has gone very right since then. I’m not going to see he’s the complete Sprinter Sacre of old, but it’s getting very close to it I think.

He travelled like the best horse going into the race and just got tired after the second last. That’s what we think anyway. Perhaps Barry just waited with him longer than he might’ve done, but that’s perfectly understandable, there wasn’t any point in winging out of Swinley Bottom and setting off for home. It was a really good gallop and it was set up to test him. I think there will be a fair old pace on at Cheltenham, too, and Barry will do what he usually does.

Since Ascot he’s been great. Early on we were waiting for that spark but you can’t rush these things. He’s back, but I’m not saying he’s what he was. He was ridiculous, unbeatable, for those two years he was unbeatable. I can’t tell you he’s that, but he’s in serious good shape. It will be a hell of a clash. They’ve got a crown we want back. I can’t be confident we’ll get it back, you can never be confident, but I’m hopeful.

[andrisiggy]

Sprinter does look pretty good in that picture. I am really pleased with the way the last few weeks have gone. at one stage it looked as though neither would run. as it stands, Sprinter and SdeG both look well, dodging bullets is in the form of his life and CF seems to thrive at the festival. It has suddenly turned in to a cracking race which didn't look too likely. Not easy to pick a winner maybe, but having said that, you could be happy about taking the current price on any of the top 4 and it feeling like a bit of value IMO. that doesn't happen that often

[andrisiggy]

oh- and no, i am not a times guru, or an guru by any stretch! I am looking forward to getting the times data when it is implemented as I think i could get some use out of it, but as it stands I don't do anything with it.

I generally just read everything i can and try and make a selection based on that!

[MrMcGoldrick]

I think you can be fairly sure ST will run here. I would not be surprised if there are only two places on the day.

Still get paid on three places though if you've backed ante-post, not sure what line Bet365 take on that because they're not only nrnb but bpg as well, so they may have a rule 4 clause, haven't checked

[Old Vic]

@RacingTrends: Hidden Cyclone crowd leaning towards the Ryanair. FFS.

Nicholls did report Hinterland is an intended runner

[mayo]

@RacingTrends: Hidden Cyclone crowd leaning towards the Ryanair. FFS.

Nicholls did report Hinterland is an intended runner

Hinterland is out

He tweeted on Tuesday morning: "Hinterland bled working at Kempton this morning and is out of the Champion Chase, will try and get him right for Sandown on the last day of the season."

[loveracing]

I may be wrong about SDG but I think everyone is over rating his last run against those donkeys. Even though he gave them a ton of weight 2 out 3 of them where already way out of sort, Far West should have been 2nd best so obviousley there was something wrong with him.

[mayo]

He holds entries in the Gold Cup, the Ryanair and the Champion Chase at the Festival but it is the latter that Walsh thinks he will end up and he fancies his chances of running another big race at Prestbury Park, despite having to face two former Champions.

Speaking on Racing UK, Walsh said: ”He’s in good form. Until he’s declared I suppose you never know, but that (Queen Mother) looks like where he’s going.

“There are a few class horses in there – Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy. They are very good horses and both have had difficult campaigns.

“Dodging Bullets is the standard bearer and Mr Mole is a massive improver, but Champagne Fever’s record over two miles is very good – two from three and he was impressive last week so in what looks an open enough contest, he’d be a very good ride.”

[Old Vic]

Another view on SDG

3. Sire De Grugy threw his hat back into the QMCC ring…
That was more like it from Gary Moore’s 9yo and it could well have just been that he wasn’t quite as fit as they thought last time out at Newbury in the Game Spirit Chase.

I have to, however, query how he was given an RPR figure for this effort that was 1lb HIGHER than his QMCC victory of last year and equal to his CAREER BEST!

None of the three opponents in Saturday’s race were realistically good enough to challenge him so I would take the fact he has was given an RPR figure of 174 with a pinch of salt. Sure it’s no mean feat winning a handicap from a mark of OR 172 but none of the opposition had come close to the form SDG had previously shown and were never likely to seriously make a dent in him.

He does now, however, deserve to be a serious consideration for back to back Cheltenham victories and we at least now have visual evidence that he still has a winning mentality.

On the trends side of things he should figure high enough although it is worth noting that 14 of the last 15 QMCC winners had their warm-up outing in a Graded contest, Saturday’s outing was most certainly not a Graded contest.

Sire De Grugy re-enters the (muddy) QMCC equation but did he really need to be back to his absolute best at Chepstow?

- See more at: http://www.narrowing-the-field.co.uk....07TTNGTl.dpuf

[loveracing]

Another view on SDG

3. Sire De Grugy threw his hat back into the QMCC ring…
That was more like it from Gary Moore’s 9yo and it could well have just been that he wasn’t quite as fit as they thought last time out at Newbury in the Game Spirit Chase.

I have to, however, query how he was given an RPR figure for this effort that was 1lb HIGHER than his QMCC victory of last year and equal to his CAREER BEST!

None of the three opponents in Saturday’s race were realistically good enough to challenge him so I would take the fact he has was given an RPR figure of 174 with a pinch of salt. Sure it’s no mean feat winning a handicap from a mark of OR 172 but none of the opposition had come close to the form SDG had previously shown and were never likely to seriously make a dent in him.

He does now, however, deserve to be a serious consideration for back to back Cheltenham victories and we at least now have visual evidence that he still has a winning mentality.

On the trends side of things he should figure high enough although it is worth noting that 14 of the last 15 QMCC winners had their warm-up outing in a Graded contest, Saturday’s outing was most certainly not a Graded contest.

Sire De Grugy re-enters the (muddy) QMCC equation but did he really need to be back to his absolute best at Chepstow?

- See more at: http://www.narrowing-the-field.co.uk....07TTNGTl.dpuf

I felt that same way OV - over rated against donkeys...

[Lessey]

I'm pinning my colours to the mast here and saying Sprintre Sacre regains his crown.

3/1 is ridiculously generous against the horse he was and could be again. The photo from the Hendo tour the other day showed how much he has improved physically since Ascot. There will be loads more under the bonnet come the day of the race and as SdG kindly demonstrated, there's fit and then there's race fit.

I have read Henderson's quote about him from the other day over and over and I think the fact they're not trying to convince people he's still there has quietly confident written all over it. As with politics, it's what they don't say that counts!

[Thomas Shelby]

I don't think there is any question that if all the runners bring their A Game on the day then Sprinter Sacre wins handsomely.

[loveracing]

I don't think there is any question that if all the runners bring their A Game on the day then Sprinter Sacre wins handsomely.

TS, you should rephrase..

"I don't think there is any question that if all the runners bring their A Game and SS brings his B game on the day then Sprinter Sacre wins handsomely".

[Lessey]

Sprinter Sacre to win be over 5 lengths @ 12/1….so tempting