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Nobody can build a horse up like
‘Hurdy’
but whats so incredible is its all totally believable,where he gets my respect is from the fact ‘the majority’ of the time its foresight he uses and he correctly predicts the potential of these beasts before others see it,hindsight is easy,we can all say now how impressive/imposing/incredible
Sprinter Sacre
is now he skipped around Kempton on his own and there lies the problem for this 5/2fav,The Arkle should have at least half a dozen worthies running thats if this fellow doesn’t scare them off because if that was the real Peddlers Cross the other day,he may as well go for The Jewson as he wont be reversing the Kempton form,mind you having said that,the last time i saw such a major reversal was when
Celtic Chief
beat
Celtic Shot
at Sandown easily back in 1988,only for Celtic Shot to reverse it easily 3 weeks later in the Champion hurdle,ah fond memories!I know i say it every year but the Supreme Nov hurdle throws up some incredible form every time,
Al Ferof
will sort him!
A compelling argument "for", HGM – thanks as always for taking the time. Bit dim of me to forget about Mr Henderson’s replica of the Cheltenham downhill, as I’m sure I’ve referred to it in similar discussions of his Cheltenham aspirants on here in the past! It’s me age, y’see…
I imagine it’s the visceral and visual impression given in his two wins so far which has taken him at least two points clear of Peddlers Cross, and four clear of Al Ferof, in most ante-post shows for the Arkle. Whether that’s predicated on enough
besides
those two victories may be another question entirely. Certainly there’s virtually nothing between them on their best chasing RPRs so far:
Sprinter Sacre 160
Peddlers Cross 159
Al Ferof 159…and if I were in the Al Ferof camp I’d be taking the most comfort from the fact that his personal best chasing RPR was recorded at Cheltenham – and over the Arkle C&D in a strongly run race, at that – compared to the Kempton and Bangor over which the other two gained theirs.
Al Ferof’s win in the Henry VIII at Sandown clearly wasn’t by as stunning a margin as some victories in the division this term, but there was apparently too little cover for him that day – leading as soon as the Pond Fence was not by design – and the neck verdict over For Non Stop on the day flatters the runner-up to an extent.
The jumping of Sandown’s back line of seven fences looked better than adequate to me, and has been the most revelatory factor of both chase starts, given his occasional clumsiness (and in the worst case scenarios, chewing of turf) in Points and over hurdles.
None of which should be taken to dismiss Sprinter Sacre outright, and I did mention earlier that the Doncaster debut left a major impression on me. The Nicholls gelding just strikes me as having been campaigned the more bravely of the trio so far, however, and has done so early enough in the winter that connections can now keep him under wraps until March safe in the knowledge of what they’ve got – a genuine Arkle aspirant proven in some of the Arkle trials that bear closest topographical (as well as qualitative) similarity to the real thing. At the current prices, I’d want Al Ferof over Sprinter Sacre, definitely.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
I was at Kempton for both days, found my self making some sort of exclamation at every jump, he is SO good.
He is one of the best jumpers i’ve ever seen, so quick over a fence and away from them. He got in VERY close to a few at Kempton, but you woudn’t know from the way he landed.
One to get very, very excited about indeed.
I watched his Donny race in the Arkle Bar at Cheltenham and it was like being at a fireworks display. All you could hear was people going "oohh!" and "ahhhhh" (and the sharp intake of breath when he was a bit hairy at an early one). I don’t often watch a race from there but when I have previously I can’t remember it being that quiet or that many people genuinely rapt.
I am looking for holes in him (like the Cheltenham hill thing) but that’s more because he excites me so much I’m trying to avoid it ruining the whole Festival for me if he flops….
None of which should be taken to dismiss Sprinter Sacre outright, and I did mention earlier that the Doncaster debut left a major impression on me. The Nicholls gelding just strikes me as having been campaigned the more bravely of the trio so far, however, and has done so early enough in the winter that connections can now keep him under wraps until March safe in the knowledge of what they’ve got – a genuine Arkle aspirant proven in some of the Arkle trials that bear closest topographical (as well as qualitative) similarity to the real thing. At the current prices, I’d want Al Ferof over Sprinter Sacre, definitely.
gc
Very true. As I don’t do ante-post betting, though, I can dream irrationally about seeing a wonder horse in March
I see McCain has said that Peddlars is "subdued" although so far tested clear, and he will go left-handed next time.
(and the sharp intake of breath when he was a bit hairy at an early one)
That might have been the water jump, mightn’t it? Certainly it was the only jump that assistant trainer Ben Pauling wasn’t happy with afterwards, reasoning that the fence wasn’t big enough for Sprinter Sacre to know what to do with it.
Kempton of two days ago has no water jump. Cheltenham in March, of course, does.
The Henderson operation has become more wary of water jumps over the years (it was one such at which Geos was killed in a Point-to-Point at Tweseldown in 2007), and I’d not be at all surprised if it eventually came out that Sprinter Sacre underwent some intensive practice over a mock-up water at home between Doncaster and Cheltenham.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Without denying that Sprinter Sacre looks an extremely good chaser in the making, I still think that there is a lot still to be proven.
I know that he is extremely highly regarded by connections and that, in itself, says a lot.
However the form of the last day is questionable at best.
Donald McCain is adamant that Peddlers Cross did not give his true running, and as Roseblossom points out, that he is subdued back at the yard. So the winner has won a 3 runner race beating a horse who didnt show his true form and who was running over a potentially inadequate trip on an easy course.
In my view, that does not entitle him to be as short as he is for the Arkle – especially as we havent seen him jump around Cheltenham yet.
He may well turn out to be one of the all time greats as stated at the start of this thread, but he still has a long way to go before then.(and the sharp intake of breath when he was a bit hairy at an early one)
That might have been the water jump, mightn’t it? Certainly it was the only jump that assistant trainer Ben Pauling wasn’t happy with afterwards, reasoning that the fence wasn’t big enough for Sprinter Sacre to know what to do with it.
Kempton of two days ago has no water jump. Cheltenham in March, of course, does.
The Henderson operation has become more wary of water jumps over the years (it was once such at which Geos was killed in a Point-to-Point at Tweseldown in 2007), and I’d not be at all surprised if it eventually came out that Sprinter Sacre will have undergone some intensive practice over a mock-up water at home between Doncaster and Cheltenham.
gc
Yes, it was the water – thanks for giving me and excuse to watch the race all over again! He did seem a bit surprised to find it was actually a fence.
I’m convinced it is a lot better horse than last year, the hill at Cheltenham found it out last year but will be a completely different story this time.
NO horse will get close to it, 100 per cent guarantee it wins every race it races in this season. FACT.DEEMAN
Sprinter Sacre is certainly a very exciting horse to watch and I was surprised he beat Peddlers Cross so easily.
Although his jumping is excellent and fearless, there’s something about the way he attacks the fences that worries me i.e. … if he falls, it could be fateful.
Worries me too Rob. God forbid that ever happens to him.
What it is, is that Barry told him your going to the Arkle and he thought he said you’re going to be Arkle so he’s trying to live up to expectations
Making a good job of it so far wouldn’t you say?Thought I’ll bring this up again as he’s running tomorrow at Newbury.
4/7, won’t get beaten.
Any thoughts?
Deeman
Sprinter Sacre might become one of the greats, but that is yet to be proved. On pure potential I’d make him favourite for next year’s Champion Chase, let alone the Arkle. Looking for negatives, this should be more of a test than Kempton’s sharp track and it’s just possible he’s a bridle horse. Didn’t find much in the Supreme after looking the winner on the turn for home. 4/7 is (imo) a short price for a novice taking on established chasers tomorrow of (currently) a similar standard. I make him a 5/6 chance.
Hold Fast still might develop in to a Champion Chase contender. Shortest priced of all Nicholls horses in that ante-post book. Impressive win in a good handicap last time. Around 5/1 looks value. My price to beat is 7/2
Favourite’s stable companion French Opera won this last year and is no push over if fit.
Zaynar has bags of ability if able to lead and if consenting to show it.
I’m So Lucky ran well for a long way in the Victor Chandler. Bit inconsistent, but I’d rather take 20/1 than 4/7 the fav. I can’t split three runners, making them all 12/1 shots.
Forget Kinkeel, I wouldn’t back him at 2000/1.
Value Is EverythingZaynar excellent value at 9s tomorrow to upset the SS Arklecart. Drop back to 17 should suit and I can see him lead throughout and battle the fav out of it
sprinter sacre will not win the arkle and is the lay of the meeting nqat
if peddlers gets round he wins
if alfie gets round he will finish second
peddlers cross is a machine of a horse, any horse that makes hurricane fly pull out all the stops in a CH surely is a bit special
Again, very, very impressive.
When Barry Geraghty says that he’s as good as any horse he has ridden ( including Moscow Flyer ) then you must sit up and take notice. Sprinter Sacre could have won by two fences there.
Barring a fall, it really is difficult to see another horse beating him at Cheltenham. He looks a monster.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Again, very, very impressive.
When Barry Geraghty says that he’s as good as any horse he has ridden ( including Moscow Flyer ) then you must sit up and take notice. Sprinter Sacre could have won by two fences there.
Barring a fall, it really is difficult to see another horse beating him at Cheltenham. He looks a monster.
I’d like to hear Donald McCains thoughts on reversing form now
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