From the racing post . Sprinter Sacre could step up in trip at Aintree A STEP up in trip and a possible clash at Aintree with Cue Card and Flemenstar has been mooted for Spinter Sacre after his breeder Christophe Malse told trainer Nicky Henderson he was "mad" for restricting the superstar seven-year-old to two miles. And Henderson feels his stable star, who is unbeaten in eight starts over fences and has never raced further than the 2m1f in the Game Spirit, could be even better over further. Having already achieved the second highest rating in the history of RPRs, that is a scary proposition for any potential rivals. Henderson had initially been drawn towards running Sprinter Sacre in the Grade 1 Boylesports.com Champion Chase at the Punchestown festival at the end of April but could change his plan and go to Aintree on April 5 instead. "There is a possibility Sprinter Sacre could go to Aintree," said Henderson. "There is no two-mile race for him but he could go for the two and a half mile chase. "He has come out of Cheltenham great and this is a slight change of tack but there are three races left for him, this Aintree race, the [Champion Chase] at Punchestown and the [Celebration Chase] at Sandown at the end of the season. "I'm not saying he is going to run at Aintree and we will see but the longer race was put in mind when talking with his breeder who said if you look at his dam's side it is three miles, three miles and three miles all down the line and we are mad running him at two." The step up in trip could help Henderson solve his present conundrum of where to go and what to do with Simonsig, but it could bring with it another set of headaches, with the trainer responsible for two and a half milers Riverside Theatre and Finian's Rainbow, as well as three milers Bobs Worth and Long Run.
Redolent of speculation regarding Frankel running the Prix Moulin. That was never,ever gonna happen. This is the same...merely teasing... Be nice if did though,however this is nothing but mere posturing from the forum's favourite I think!
I don't think it will happen myself, though if it did I don't see the step up in trip as a problem. We no doubt will see him over further 1 day, but I think they'll stick to 2 miles this season and just head to Punchestown
Agree with you both. What a draw that would be and a great ad for racing. I think it will happen in future but not at this stage......the result would still be predictable imo.
He will never be beaten over 2 miles, so why not give it a go.Imagine his speed and engine over 20f and further?The mind boggles at what he can achieve.Poor Cue Card and Flemenstar..
They won't know until and unless they try. Regarding comparisons with Frankel, there were many who doubted his ability to shine over 1m2f. as it was, he improved over the trip. I implore the forums favourite posh dipso to give it a go.
They've nothing to fear but fear itself. The Moulds are sporting people, I'm sure they'll give it serious consideration.
If he were to win a KG, then I'd be pretty certain he would end up going for the Gold Cup, as the KG over the years has proved the best 'trial' for the Gold Cup
Recent King George winners have an excellent record in the GC, sure. On the other hand, Edredon Bleu won it, and Azertyoup ran well in it, so it can't be categorised as a race for stayers. It would be at the limit of Sprinter Sacres range imo, as it was for those two, and also for Florida Pearl.
There is a major difference between 3 miles at Kempton and 3 miles at Cheltenham. 3.25 miles at Cheltenham, with its uphill finish, is much stiffer than just staying another 2f and was the downfall of the very classy Pendil. I would be very surprised if SS ever went for the GC.
It looks like Tizzard might bypass Aintree with CC should SS tip up. Tizzard says SS is the most brilliant horse he has seen.At least he is a realist.
I'm not saying winning a KG proves a horse can win a Gold Cup, but it goes along way as recent winners of the KG have proven, and it's fairly obvious SS is on a different level to any of those. If he were to win a KG, I'd be suprised if connections went for the Champion Chase on the back of winning a KG. if he's proven to stay 3 miles then temptation will get the better of them, as he hasn't got alot more to get
Reading his comments in today's RP, I think Colin Tizzard would quite like to have a crack at Sprinter Sacre, and 2m4f round Aintree would certainly be the place to try it. Of course it's not just his decision, but I got the impression that he was weighing it up. You can't keep ducking one horse.
"I'm not going to say we'll take him on and I'm not going to say we'll bypass him because I don't honestly know," said trainer Colin Tizzard. "It's something that we'll mull over for a week or ten days. "With a horse like Sprinter Sacre, you'd be foolish not to take his plans into consideration. He's not like any other horse I know, he's the most brilliant horse I've seen." Doesnt sound like hes relishing having a crack to me. When you have to mull something over for a week to ten days it means you are going to bottle it.At least Casey is up for the challenge...good on him!
