It's not going to be a walk over if it is I will hold my hands up I just think nicholls will have sanctuarie spot on for the tingle creek and could cause an upset I can't wait !!!
Any other year we would be talking Sanctuaire up in a big big way.But unfortunately he is going against the most naturally talented NH horse ive ever seen in my lifetime. It wont be a bloodless victory first time up,but come March it certainly will be.
So horses can improve and I reckon all of nicholls are improving a fare bit than last year I wouldn't be surprised if an upset will be on the cards
He's had 3 starts over fences for goodness sake! So much scope for improvement it's ridiculous. To be so cavalier about his chances is silly, he's very, very good!
Would love to see this years stronger, tougher cue card up against these two. Think he could have given sprinter sacre a shock on his first time out. Sadly won't happen. Personally i think this will be the only time this season anyone has a hope of getting sprinter beaten and I don't think sanctuaire is up to the task.
Well said NamNed. Not saying sanctuaire will win but i waa hugely impressed by him and think he is being underrated
Yeah me too Simmo, doesn't really matter who he beat on his last start at Sandown, it was the way he did it that was impressive, to gallop and jump like that and have the race over as a contest as far out as it was, was the sign of a horse going places in my eyes. We all know about how good Sprinter Sacre is, but haven't we been here with Long Run before? Horses are not robots, they won't automatically improve, and there is a chance, albeit a slight one, that he won't train on and improve as much as we think he will. Don't get me wrong, he could be the best 2 miler chaser we have ever seen, but I'll reserve my judgement until he shows us what he's got this season. By the same token, to write off Sanctuaire before we've even seen him re-appear this season is a little short sighted
Sure he's only had 3 chase starts. The form of his first really doesnt tell us anything and in his final chase he was given an excellent ride whilst receiving weight and was allowed to steal the race from tired horses at the end of their season. I really don't see him being in sprinter sacres class. Also although a very different discipline his more recent hurdling form does not make good reading. It looks like it was possibly a bit of an after thought to send him chasing last season. They clearly had higher hopes for him over hurdles having contested some high class renewals. Surely if he was anywhere near the class of sprinter he would have been jumping a fence from the start of last season.
It won't happen but I'd pay a decent entry fee to see Flemenstar versus Sprinter Sacre versus Sanctuaire anywhere but preferably in the Champion Chase (I've already got my ticket for the Tues and Weds). Though Sprinter Sacre looks an absolute superstar I'd love to see how he reacts to being in a proper race coming to the last. The only time that's happened (2011 Supreme) he folded tamely. I know he was always going to be a better chaser than hurdler but I want to see him up against the best over the big uns and put them to the sword.
The thing is, what has Sprinter Sacre beaten? Peddlers Cross- the biggest chase disappointment of last season. Cue Card, who I love but most of you don't rate as a contender for any race. Al Ferof, who hit a fence hard when giving Cue Card a race for 2nd in the Arkle. Sprinter Sacre is a fabulous 2 miler and Barry Geraghtys comments back that up. But no NH horse is unbeatable, especially 2m chasers, so all I would say is be very, very careful because Sanctuaire was nothing short of bloody scintilating when hammering Somersby and French Opera, and Sprinter Sacre much the same against French Opera himself. One thing I would say is that I think Sprinter Sacre might just have that bigger engine where if he settles he will see off the Nicholls challenger, but Sanctuaire- if consenting to race- is equally as exciting and a rivalry would be incredible for the sport.
The arguments about Sanctuaire beating tired horses doesn't hold much water with me. He had six races last term and Somersby was running in his seventh and both were coming off a similar break. I understand Somersby was running at Cheltenham in a competitive race but it just strikes me as looking for something to beat Sanctuaire with. It most likely was an after thought to send him chasing last season and maybe Paul Nicholls regrets not sending him chasing earlier after the way he has performed. People saying he has no chance with Sprinter Sacre are being a little naive. Whilst we know the Henderson horse swept all before his last year, there is no guarantee that will happen this season. Long Run was meant to be the second coming. I am not saying that I expect Sanctuaire to win and would not be surprised if here were beaten easily. However, I think he will put up a very good performance and I would like to see a good race, which will hopefully set up some good clashes between these two for the season.
Exactly right - I think the talk of Sanctuaire being tossed aside is ludicrous. To me they look very similar, both in the way they travel, jump and the standard of horses they've beaten. You could argue that Somersby and Wishfull Thinking aren't two milers, in the same way that Cue Card and Al Ferof aren't either. I'm really looking forward to it, in a way it's a shame that this clash couldn't have been saved until March, but hey ho we've got it in December and I really do think it will be super close! Only slight reservation I have about getting involved money-wise, is that Sanctuaire could set the race up nicely for SS by setting a good strong pace, which he would clearly love, but let's leave that argument alone.....<run>
I probably won't be having a bet as Sanctuaire is priced up at 5/2 with Paddy Power at the moment, I can see him being a bigger price on the day but a race to watch and enjoy for me. I think it is a shame Sizing Europe's owner is so determined to win the King George as he would be where my money would be going should he head over for this race.
Bob, all I am trying to get across is you cannot write off a horse with 3 impressive chase starts, who has scope for massive improvement. I am sure not many people would have said Kauto Star would have definitely beat Long Run in last seasons betfair, but people will have said it was possible.
That's fine. And all I'm saying is Sanctuaire hasn't done anything yet. It's easy to take on a favourite like SS because if you're wrong no one cares and if you're right you get the reflected glory of seeing through the superstar. Long Run is nothing like SS and I don't understand why anyone would compare the two. LR had a very tough Gold Cup to recover from. Can anyone point out a race where SS has hit third gear let alone had to slog it out? Please do not say the Novice hurdle at Cheltenham because i will lose my sh it. LR is a shadow of his Gold Cup run now because that race has taken the edge off him much like many RSA winners flop and much like we never saw the great Denman after the tussle with Kauto. I usually respect everyone's opinion but on this matter I can't countenance the alternatives.
I completely agree with what you are saying regarding Sanctuaire having done nothing that would see him beat Sprinter Sacre yet. However he has the potential to do so. I won't be taking on Sprinter Sacre, but I can see why some people would.
