So what was said at the Cheltenham Previews about the Arkle ChallengeTrophy Chase ?
The first preview we have tracked on our forum took place about three weeks ago at Tipperary. Davy Russell opined that Peddlers Cross would outstay Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle. Andrew Lynch was also in the Peddlers Cross camp.
On his tour around the previews (nobody else seems to do as many!) Davy told one audience that “Richard Johnson told me he would win the Arkle on Menorah” and that “he spoke to Joe Tizzard who rides Cue Card and he promised to set a strong pace to expose any stamina weakness in Sprinter Sacre, which may set the race up for Peddlers Cross or possibly Al Ferof”. At the latest previews Davy has seemingly seen the light. It has now been reported that he considers Sprinter Sacre “unbeatable”
It appears to have been Gordon Elliot at the Ballymore Eustace preview that first flagged the possibility that Peddler Cross participation was in question. Panelists at that stage had become very cool on his chances with the BHA handicapper Phil Smith saying “ Even if Peddlers Cross turns up here he has no chance of winning, his 2m chase form doesn’t read well at all”. He added “Al Ferof has very solid form running against older horses when 3rd in the Victor Chandler, but I still think Sprinter Sacre will win and we rate him 9lb superior to both Al Ferof and Peddlers Cross”. Henry De Bromhead also tipped Al Ferof. Paul Nicholls was keen on his own charge and expressed a view that “Sprinter Sacre was not certain to stay as best form came on flat tracks”. At Westmanstown Sprinter Sacre’s jockey Barry Geraghty was asked if he was concerned about the Cheltenham hill for Sprinter Sacre? Barry replied “I am very concerned…concerned that there isn’t enough room at the top of it to pull him up!”
Patrick Mullins is not convinced making Sprinter Sacre “his lay of the meeting” and believing he would be caught by one of the other previous course winners. Pricewise, Tom Segal, had a different take: “if there’s one horse that can beat Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle it’s Menorah”. Philip Hobbs advised that “Menorah jumps well enough at home but makes the odd mistake”. Matt Chapman asked Menorah’s jockey Richard Johnson if “he had to take out special insurance” (to ride Menorah). Chapman was also opposed to Sprinter Sacre “Who can back a novice chaser at evens?”
Here are some of the comments from the Sprinter Sacre Fan Club:
Barry Geraghty: “could be the best I have ridden”
Paul Jones: “the one to beat”
David Pipe: “too much pace for the rest”
Andrew Tinkler: “He has to work on his own at home as nothing can live with him and we don’t want to break the hearts of horses like Oscar Whisky by working with him”
Jessica Harrington: “Machine”
Nicky Henderson: “big black aeroplane”
Charlie Morlock: “an absolute monster of a horse”
Slippers Madden: “a serious horse”
Noel Meade: “could be the best I have ever seen”
Tony Mullins: “a stonewall certainty”
