So looking forward to the Tingle Creek and seeing Sprinter Sacre against Sanctuaire. I’ve just got a funny feeling that an upset could be on the cards here as Nicholls horses are firing with all guns blazing ,if Sprinter Sacre wins in a canter then I will regard him very highly but I hope Ruby puts lots of pressure at the railway fences just to see how good Sprinter is. ! Opinions people who wins ????
I agree Im very excited about this race. Sprinter was the star of last season, rightly so, but sanctuaire was hugely impressive in all his races. Especially at sandown the way he beat a good field. I love watching the way he sets off pinging fences at speed. In my honest opinion, i think sprinter sacre will win because he seems an absolute monster and could see his rating continue to soar but i wouldnt Be overly shocked to see sanctuaire win either. Nicholls has been very positive in his reports. Will Be a race to saviour regardless Im sure
Sanctuaire if consenting to run will be Sprinter Sacres biggest test by far. If Sanctuaire is to beat him it will be right handed IMO. Sprinter will win the Champion chase regardless. Sanctuaire has not touched a twig so far and he was a serious hurdler. They are very similar IMO- Buzzed up couple of lunatics who were very good hurdlers with some fabulous talent. Sprinter has a bit more intelligence when he gets in close though so so going forward I think he'll learn how to beat Sanctuaire. For Tingle Creek purposes though I side with the Nicholls horse.
Surprised this debate is even taking place. SS was only 5lb's "inferior" to Sanctuaire over timber despite having seven fewer races and hardly being pushed. He also has much more scope than Sanctuaire,a more versatile style of racing and a better temperament. He is streets ahead of the Nicholls runner. E.O.S!!
This isn't going to be the race people are making it out to be. Sprinter Sacre will destroy Sanctuaire. Cue Card would destroy Sanctuaire
At last a blast of realism!...and who would have thought it would come from RV...!! Only kidding mate...you're spot on .
Can't add to RV or Dex's comments really, i think Sprinter Sacre would take the race should they meet.
With all due respect, Sanctuaire has not done a thing wrong guys and I would have him beating Cue Card at Sandown all day. That last Sandown win was excellent. Somersby had no answer and yes he s a bridesmaid but he also sets a good standard. Sanctuaire deserves a chance in a Grade1 chase and that is how we know where we stand. I think it will be a better contest than people think.
I agree that Sanctuaire could prove to be his foe. Only three starts over fences and every one of them has been brilliant. Whilst you can refer to hurdles marks as a guide, there is nothing to say Sanctuaire cannot improve vastly for the larger obstacles. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sprinter Sacre sweep him to one side as he has done all comers so far, but I wouldn't be writing off Sanctuaire at this stage.
Why is this even a discussion? Sanctuaire is a very good horse. Sprinter Sacre is a great horse. Would anyone have taken Excelebration to beat Frankel at any point over the last couple of years? No. So why expect Sanctuarire to beat Sprinter Sacre?
Bob, nobody would have taken Excelebration to beat Frankel last season because he had already proved to be a long way inferior to Frankel in previous seasons. However, Sanctuaire and Sprinter Sacre have not crossed swords yet and as such you cannot say beyond doubt that Sanctuaire won't spring a surprise. It is highly likely he won't, however I wouldn't rule it out just yet.
I really am amazed that this is being talked up as some sort of clash of any description as in my opinion there is only going to be one winner when the pair meet and that is Mr Henderson’s Sprinter Sacre. The speed with which this one jumps and travels throughout his races is a joy to behold and then the finishing kick that he is able to deliver on top of this sets him aside from all his likely opponents in the ‘Tingle Creek’. In my opinion one of the best NH horses of my lifetime and if kept sound should remain unbeaten for some time to come. People can talk up Sprinter Sacre’s opponents all they like but the reality is that the ‘big black aeroplane’ will be leave them miles behind on the track as he soars away from them. The sky really is the limit re Sprinter Sacre, people.
This race is not as cut and dry as people make think. Sprinter Sacre, as we all know, is a hugely impressive animal. Travels so strongly, jumps impeccably, and has some serious speed. BUT so does Sanctuaire. Go and watch the race at Sandown, and someone tell me that that was not seriously impressive, and I'm going to be honest now, for me as impressive as Sprinter's Arkle win. Behind Sanctuaire were some serious animals, admittedly not over they're optimum trip, but they got slaughtered. To lead from the front all the way like that and spend 90% of the race on the bridle, show some serious toe, and then quicken again is very, very good, especially at a track like Sandown. Maybe the lead was soft, but any horse that went with Sanc that day would have been embarrassed. I'm not for one minute saying Sanctuaire will win, and I'm in no doubt SS could have done the same thing, but I would never at this stage say Sanc will be destroyed. He's too good.
You're right Brigadier but I also mentioned the season before when they hadn't faced each other. The point I was trying to get at is that if Sprinter is as good as many believe then he's sitting on that lofty perch with Frankel et al as the best horses of their generation in their chosen field. In which case Sanctuaire doesn't have a hope in much the same way that Excelebration didn't. That's no slight on Excelebration or Sanctuaire.
Where does Flemenstar fit into this discussion over 2miles? I see him as better than Sanctuaire but inferior to Sprinter Sacre.
Pretty sure they're stepping Flemenstar up in trip. I'd be interested to know why you'd have Flemenstar above Sanctuaire over 2 miles?
I know they're stepping him up but clearly he's top class over 2. I like his jumping. I think he has speed to burn and I think, around a course such as Cheltenham you really need to stay a bit more than 2miles to win which we know he does.
I don't think they'll ever race to be honest, the aim for Flemenstar is the GC, taking in the Lexus/King George, and the other two will be geared towards the Queen Mother. For the record though I think he'd be found wanting against both of them over 2 miles.
I am going on 8th December to Sandown for one reason and that is to see the mighty SPRINTER SACRE! So I won't hear of defeat for him. ok Sanctuaire had a good win at Sandown in April but Sprinter Sacre has only been beaten in the last couple of years by Al Ferof and Spirit Son. Spirit Son is injured and look at what Al Ferof did on Saturday! He won the Arkle by 7 lengths and beat Al Ferof and Cue Card. On his seasonal reappearance I don't think Sprinter Sacre will destroy Sanctuaire but similarly I can't see him getting beat.
