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Is the drift for Clarence chase because of ground or some other reason ? Desperate to see Sprinter back.
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It's all about the ground - Henderson as on @beyracingnation earlier said they are getting nervous.Comment
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A few bits from Lydia I missed - Uxizandre straight to Champion Chase !
Gary Moore, trainer of Sire De Grugy, delivered an upbeat report via the Betway blog, admitting that, had he not been so conservative in his initial treatment of the hip injury, the horse might have made it back in time for this Saturday or even for the Tingle Creek.
Sire De Grugy was back cantering last week and will now face an increasing workload to prepare for his comeback. If the weather were to claim Newbury’s meeting, Moore also stressed he would seek a prep race – even over hurdles – rather than return in the Champion Chase itself.
Captain Conan hasn’t raced since fracturing his pelvis in two places in last year’s renewal. Henderson told the Racing Post: “It was a nasty injury but he's in very good order and we're definitely getting there. Captain Conan is showing us in his work he has lost none of his ability."
He was among the modern-day record of 33 entries received for this race, but also holds an engagement in the Ryanair. Uxizandre, who lost his jumping mojo early on at Leopardstown last time, also holds that dual entry but trainer King says he is likely to contest this race and without a prep.
Mullins hopes Twinlight will develop into a Champion Chase contender but conceded in his Racing Post column that he has “a bit to prove yet”. But Mallowney, the ten-length winner of a Fairyhouse handicap last Sunday, is not entered at Cheltenham and has the Punchestown Festival as his aim.Comment
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Dodging Bullets has the best form in he book this season. Can't see him beat on Saturday even if Sprinter turns up.Comment
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Video of Champagne Fever added to his thread http://www.fatjockey.com/forum/showt...orse-to-follow
Think Ricci said he would back to two miles nowComment
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spat my tea out ...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Sporting Life Preview says Sprinter Sacre will have to be somewhere near his best to beat Dodging Bullets! <a href="http://t.co/S9Te6Fv1KS">pic.twitter.com/S9Te6Fv1KS</a></p>— Cheltenham Zone (@CheltenhamZone) <a href="https://twitter.com/CheltenhamZone/status/556094659358126080">January 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
and the offensive preview
Former champion Sprinter Sacre makes his long-awaited return but Nicky Henderson will be taking it one race at a time and he'll have to be somewhere near his best to get the better of DODGING BULLETS. Paul Nicholls' youngster showed improved form to beat Somersby in the Tingle Creek last month and may have more to offer now he's proved himself at the highest level. Twinlight sprang a surprise in the Dial-A-Bet at Leopardstown over Christmas and won't be far away with a similar effort but this looks a big ask for Grey Gold meeting these off level weights.
Timeform on the other hand
SPRINTER SACRE produced the highest Timeform rating over jumps in the modern era when winning the 2013 Champion Chase, and he should have little trouble despatching these rivals provided all is well with him after his much-publicised absence. Twinlight may prove better placed than the Tingle Creek 1-2 Dodging Bullets and Somersby should the ex-Champion fluff his lines.
Its hard to get the staff
Last edited by Old Vic; 16 January 2015, 03:17 PM.Comment
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Interesting stat about Dodging Bullets, apparently he's never won after the turn of the year in 8 attempts, doesn't mean he can't of course but just something to bear in mind.Originally posted by johnno View PostComment
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Ruby seems to think Dodging Bullets will struggle - Tongue Tie ?
I can never get Twinlight right either.
Looking forward to it though.Comment
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Why does it always have to be about you Paul ?
15:00 Ascot - Dodging Bullets
A lot of people are saying this race is all about one horse. And they would probably be right if this race was two years ago, because if Sprinter Sacre returns to anywhere approaching the form that he showed when winning at Cheltenham and Aintree in 2013 then he should win this. Remember, he was rated 188 at his best and Dodging Bullets is currently only rated 165.
But it is nearly two years since those performances now and Nicky's horse has it to prove after his heart problem - though I've had a few that have come back fine from similar problems, not least Denman - and he probably won't find the testing ground ideal first time up.
But he has to start somewhere. And I can tell you it will be a great training performance from Nicky if he does win here, and an awesome performance from his horse. So we go into this race with plenty of hope and Dodging Bullets comes here after a career-best win in the Tingle Creek, is on an upward curve, and he won't mind the ground. His form has tailed off after Christmas in the past, and that is in the back of our minds, but he comes here in great form, I reckon the track will suit, and we have done a few things differently with him this season.
For example, we have kept him fresh after the Tingle Creek - and win, lose or draw this will be his last race before Cheltenham - and we treated him for ulcers in the summer and we put a tongue tie on him for the first time since Aintree 2012 at Sandown last time. I'd have liked to have done that sooner but he has only just calmed down enough to let us put it on. I'm confident of a big run, and I'd like to think that he will be the one to find any chinks in Sprinter Sacre's armour these days.Comment
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Well played Johnno.
mega interesting champion chase now.Comment
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Well done johnno for tipping dodging bullets, I thot he won it fair and square.Sprinter was giving an easy race round though understandably and I just wonder how he's gonna come out of this.Only henderson and geraghty know what is left with Sprinter and I hope they do the right thing with him. He's got nothing to prove and all things being equal lets hope they dont go to the well once too often with him.Comment
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Kudos to johnno.
I think all sides will for something to take out of it and almost an ideal result if you were promoting the race.
Last edited by Old Vic; 18 January 2015, 07:29 AM.Comment
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Ian McClean
Sprinter Sacre, the highest rated horse in training - esteemed higher by Timeform than any horse since the Arkle era - reappeared for competitive action after a 386 day absence enforced by a heart condition precipitating his sole chase career defeat at Kempton when last seen on a racecourse.
Since then the rehabilitation has been painstaking; the media reporting relentless; and the nervous anticipation amongst racing folk yesterday unmistakable. Whilst the sentiment of hope was unanimous, opinion was divided between the "they never come back" merchants and the speculators whose weight of opinion and cash finally forced Sprinter Sacre's price into a heavily-supported 4/6 at the off.
Most neutrals expected the "black aeroplane" would either bolt up or bomb out. At 3.10 yesterday afternoon, we finally discovered he did neither.
In a small field featuring two in-form last-time-out Grade 1 winners and Messers Walsh, McCoy and Fehily in opposition, Barry Geraghty was never going to get it easy. Tactically, if the former-invincible returning favourite was to have a chink in his armour, it was certain to be fitness. Consequently McCoy set off like the wrath of God on Somersby and the die was cast - if Sprinter Sacre was going to return in triumph he would need his A+ Game, not just his A Game.
For the favourite it was certainly a race of two halves - in the early stages his jumping was uncharacteristically ponderous. Geraghty played defensive and sensibly tried to preciously conserve all he had - but in doing so he was disabling his strongest weapon.
However, after the turn out of Swinley Bottom, the rider gradually eased off the hand-brake over the last six obstacles and his ebony partner immediately began to throw in the type of spectacular vaults along the row of Ascot's uphill fences that characterised his former glories. Enough to even drew a gasp from the crowd at the third last.
The manoeuvre was enough to see off Twinlight and put Dodging Bullets into temporary liquidation as Sprinter Sacre went effortlessly from fourth to now stalking a foundering Somersby into the straight. However, the effort took its toll on the fuel gauge and Sprinter slowly turned to plodder as Dodging Bullets renewed his effort to get back upsides the favourite with unnervingly little resistance.
Barry Geraghty admitted afterwards that his horse "got tired very quickly" and in truth the rider was holding onto very little from the second last. Credit to the horse, even at the final fence when his goose was already cooked, Sprinter stood off and flew it. He was nursed home by Geraghty three lengths behind the Dodging Bullets in an act of preservation for the next day, when, all being equal, winner and second will rematch in the Champion Chase. Depending on your preference, you can reasonably argue Sprinter Sacre's glass as either half-empty or half-full.
What is undeniable is that the former Champion Chaser has run significantly below his previous level of form and the real question is whether this will remain his level or, if this run improves him, by how much. This question will inevitably animate many a pre-Cheltenham evening up and down the land over the coming weeks. Nicky Henderson's immediate reaction was to see the positive.
"Great! He just got a bit tired but he was full of his enthusiasm, he travelled into the straight like himself and just got tired. I'm pleased we decided to run. Only one day matters and he'll come on plenty for it," the trainer said. The rider was a bit more circumspect, commenting that he was "hopeful we'll narrow the gap come March".
Noel Fehily remarked when asked about the return of Sprinter Sacre and its value for racing "It was good to see him back - but it was very good to beat him".
The return of the king proved ultimately inconclusive and, unlike the Lord of the Rings, there is yet another chapter to look forward to in the Cotswolds on March 11.Comment
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Market Round Up
Bet Victor now a standout 3/1 on Sprinter Sacre
Paddy Power are 11/4 with additional benefit of NRNB.
Despite tweets that Sprinter Sacre is "a pale shadow" and "gone" from @jamesaknight Coral are no better than second best at 11/4 and have not yet gone NRNB.
Bet Victor also best about Sire De Grugy at 9/2 - the best NRNB price is 4s with Bet365.
Dodging Bullets 5s NRNB with Bet365 and Paddy Power.
Champagne Fever a best price of 8s NRNB with Betfair Sportsbook.
Clicking on links will take you to the bookmaker registration page.Last edited by Old Vic; 18 January 2015, 08:18 AM.Comment
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Coral went 7/2 on Sprinter after the race. They were 4/1 before Christmas so maybe just balancing the book.Originally posted by Old Vic View PostComment
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