SS has run three times in open company and today beat an 11-y-o who nearly fell over turning in. Lets calm down a little. He has the potential to be the greatest but has much more to prove to be "the greatest 'chaser you've ever seen.." All about opinions though...wonder what Supreme would say!!
I had a decent bet on him at 4/11 early in the morning, though didn't win anything on the day having had various losers, including Boston Bob, which almost killed me. I haven't been punting that much on horses lately, as I hadn't had a great run on them, and found myself doing better punting on other sports. Il probably start punting more on the horses once the flat starts up again. Form is far more reliable on the flat
Fair enough Shergy, like the way you're always honest about it. It's always tough to get winners here. I'm the opposite to you though I'll be punting a lot less now after the festival. Good luck for the rest of the festival
I'll tell you what AS would say. A big NO to the original question. And as one of the few still alive who has seen both SS AND Arkle, I'd have to say that for me, the old horse still shades it. Imperious as SS has been, he is beating his contempories on level weights over the minimum trip. Arkle did the same in his time, in all the big staying races, but tellingly could also do the same in the handcaps - Irish National, Hennesey etc giving up to 3 stone in weight. However, I'm happy enough in the knowledge that I have been allowed and privileged to see some of the greatest horses ever, without feeling the need to measure or compare their respective accomplishments. You can't realistically do that while one is a 2 miler and one a stayer. Just my take on it
I am not old enough to remember Arkle racing live, but I do know he never won a chase over 2 miles, and SS has never ran further than 2 miles in a chase. Arkle won his first Gold Cup at the age of 7 by a few lengths pushed out, and was not unbeaten over fences, having lost in the Hennessy, getting weight off the horse thà t beat him. Sprinter Sacre has won his first Champion Chase at the age of 7, by 19 lengths on the bridle, and has never lost a race over fences, nor has he ever looked like losing one. So as far as I'm concerned SS is a far more dominant 2 miler, than Arkle was 3 miler, at the same stage of there careers
Sprinter Sacre is undoubtedly number 1 in training. Who would you put at number 2? Simonsig or Cue Card?
I think he probably will be, but i think to be called the greatest ever he will have to do it over a couple more years yet which he most likely will. The other downside is that he will only strut his stuff at 2miles which makes him a bit one dimensional. Kauto star for one example won 2 tingle creeks and 2 gold cups. An outstanding achievement. I agree that he is a great jumper at most, but the best jumper i've seen would probably be master minded. He was sensational. I very much doubt Simonsig will ever meet Sprinter Sacre. The yard always keep their horses apart if they can and the fact we know he stays 2.5 at cheltenham so well means he will be moving up in trip imo. I actually think he will be aimed at the king george next season.
I thought we were talking about best horse in training, sorry. Big Bucks didnt actually tip up on his only start, he won a few chases including a G1 at Aintree, beating a young Albertas Run that day, he then unseated rider at the last in thè Hennessy, which prompted connections to switch back to hurdles
That cart horse has completely lost it ever since Sprinter Sacre blew his doors off. As I predicted he would
