I've just been watching replays of Sprinter Sacre's 5 effortless victories this seaon over fences and find myself wondering just how good this fella could be and where we might see him running over the next few years. I'm pretty sure we'll see him campaigned over 2 miles next season, with all roads leading to the Champion Chase at the festival. The Tingle Creek and Game Spirit would seem like obvious stepping stones, but I wonder whether connections may already look to step him up after Cheltenham next year, possibly going for the Melling Chase at Aintree, with one eye on the 2013 King George and possibly a tilt at the 2014 Gold Cup? I'm sure his tendency to pull Barry Geraghty's arms out will decline with age and experience, and there are certainly traits in his pedigree to suggest he may stay considerably further than 2 miles. His sire, Network, does not have many progeny in the NH game (yet) but has also sired both Rubi Light and Rubi Ball, as well as the winner of yesterday's John Smith's Handicap Chase over 3m1f, Saint Are. In fact, Network could become a sire to follow in coming years and Sprinter Sacre is, to date, his most successful progeny. Where do you think Sprinter Sacre will head over the next 2-3 years, and how good could he be? Will he get the Gold Cup trip one day, or will he be kept at 2 miles?
He isn't the future, he is the present. Superb again at Aintree, wonderful horse who should be wowing crowds with top performances over the 2 mile trip for the foreseeable future. I have one worry about him, and that being that it wouldn't be a shock to see him hit a fence when upped to face the seasoned chasers, but keep him sound and he should be a star for the foreseeable
Title may be misleading Nass - I agree he is here and now, I'm wondering what we think the future may hold for him and which way would you steer him in terms of trip?
It's an interesting question. I'd fully expect him to slaughter the older chasers next season. Whether he has it in him to stay fully I don't know - I know less than nothing about pedigrees. From Nicky Hendersons perspective, however, he has Bobs Worth, Long Run and Riverside Theatre over the longer trips, so I'd say if he stepped Sprinter Sacre up he'd be a bit crowded... Although arguably he's better than those three, we'll see. If I was Henderson, I'd not be thinking about stepping him up, I'd be aiming at winning as many Champion Chases as possible. Do we think Finians Rainbow will only run over 2m4f next season? It seems bizarre not to let him try to defend his Champion Chase crown, but if not then NH could have a decent whack at winning every chase at the festival!
Two interesting points, the one about his staying chasers is one I agree with. FR, surely has to go QMCC to defend the crown, different owners so it would make total sense to see them opposing each other at least once next year.
He's all about speed, isn't he? Next season's sure to be focused on the Tingle Creek and the Champion Chase, with the Haldon Gold Cup an obvious place to start. Obviously he'd have a lot more options over 2m4f if they choose to go that way, but in the meantime excitement about the future ought to be tempered by awareness of the cloud currently hanging over Frankel. Enjoy the now, because the future is far from garunteed.
We all think SS is a hell of a horse but at this moment in time the reigning QMCC winner has beaten a hell of a lot more than SS has. If i'm the owner i'd be outraged if Needles pushed for the Ryanair.
I reckon he will stay alot further in time, but whilst he is so keen in his races, they should stick to 2 miles. He will clear up over 2 miles next year, and then he will probably have a go at the 2013 King George
I remember Kauto Star won the 2005 Tingle Creek, and then went for the 2006 QM champion chase and then was stepped up after that. Are we in that sort of position with Sprinter Sacre now or will he be the Moscow Flyer of his generation? He could easily win 3 QM champion chases - something that eluded Moscow Flyer. of course that was part of a golden age with Azertiyop and Well Chief. As Finians Rainbow also continues to improve are we starting to witness another great rivalry developing? certainly the Wednesday at Cheltenham next year (and Thursday if Big Bucks goes for number 5) will be very exciting!
He’s raced beyond 2 miles once (Ascot, November 2010) and palpably failed to stay. Sprinter Sacre is a 2 miler pure and simple and he has a trainer, the forum’s favourite Mr Henderson, who appreciates that fact and won’t ask him to run over distances that are beyond his capabilities. Unless age sees him suddenly include stamina in his list of attributes do not ever expect to see Sprinter Sacre run in either a King George VI Chase or a Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, providing he stays sound and in his current form expect him to win several, and I do mean several, Champion Chases. Re Finian's Rainbow, providing old boy Sprinter Sacre stays healthy, then he is far more likely in 2013 to run in the Ryanair rather than the Champion Chase.
good point Barney - yes Finians looks more suited to the longer distance. i had better get my QM champion chase bet on Sprinter Sacre now!
The funny thing with Sprinter Sacre now is, punters trust him more than they trust Big Bucks, which is quite remarkable considering BBs record. I for one have not see a horse jump fences, as well as SS does, he clears them without touching a twig, and he has a huge engine to go with. If they stick to 2 miles, I can't see anything, even getting him off the bridle, he is that good. That's why I can see Finians Rainbow going for the Ryanair next season, because he has no chance against SS, I'd also keep Simonsig over hurdles, and go for next years Champion Hurdle because even if he does win next years Arkle, he's not going to beat SS after that.
surely there has to be a chance with fences that he might hit one eventually though? I still think Big Buck's offers the better value and I reckon any price better than evens for him to win the world hurdle again next season is the bet of the year.
Well he's jumped round 5 completely different tracks this season, and hasn't looked like hitting one. Even when he has come to a fence on the wrong foot, he's proved to be very clever. So I wouldn't be overly concerned about him hitting a fence
I wouldn't think that one race at Ascot proves he wouldn't get further Sir Barney - he was a raw 4YO who was trying to chase down a much more experienced rival that had been given way too much slack and has since proven to be a decent stayer (Frascati Park). Having said that, there seems to be little wrong with sweeping up across the 2 mile division for a couple of years. Re Finian's Rainbow, is it possible that old boy Buckley would desperately like to have a Gold Cup horse, and hence the step up in trip?? I can't ever remember him having one good enough to run in the race ............................
