Dave Dickinson on Sprinter and the Game Spirit -

The Grade 2 Betfair Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Friday was undoubtedly the highlight of the week in the 2m to 2m5f chase division, although there were a couple of other races that pushed it close, writes Mark Olley.

It’s not often that you witness a novice treat older rivals with total contempt, especially in a Grade 2 contest, and in a new course record time, but that’s exactly what Sprinter Sacre did. Nicky Henderson’s hugely exciting novice never came off the bridle in beating stable-mate French Opera and gave me the same kind of tingle up the spine that Kauto Star did when winning the Lancashire Chase at Haydock back in 2006 prior to his first Gold Cup.

French Opera won this race last season, along with a Grade 2 at Sandown, and also ran a creditable sixth in the Champion Chase. He’s just below the very top-class 2m chasers, but is a high-class 2-miler and seldom runs a poor race.

I based the race around French Opera (162) and the third placed I’m So Lucky (150) – who received 10lb and was beaten just over two lengths by French Opera – and have them both running to their pre-race marks. This left me with the decision on what to call the facile six-length winning margin. In the end I settled on 12lb which puts Sprinter Sacre on a new mark of 169 and makes him the highest rated novice in years.

This compares favourably with recent winners of the Game Spirit – French Opera was 164 in 2011, Master Minded was 173 in 2010 and 170 in 2008, while Well Chief was 169 in 2007 (the race was abandoned in 2009). It also puts Sprinter Sacre into second place in the 2m chase division, behind the 177-rated Sizing Europe.

Very true! Will do MM, cheers.

See McCain has now come out and said PC's 'little problems' related to back injuries, now fully resolved, horse working well and ready for the Arkle. My main concern with PC would be that after his showing at Kempton, he hasn't been given the opportunity to show that he is right. There's a huge difference between doing it at home and doing it on the track.

Alleged. SS may get outstayed in the Arkle, time will tell, but he did win 2 bumpers (the 2nd only ordinary and the first receiving weight) and did start over hurdles over 2m3. He may be a short runner, and the Arkle would expose stamina limitations should they exist, especially as he is likely to tank, but I am not convinced he has insufficient stamina.

The more you see him jump and destroy the opposition the less doubts there are about Cheltenham,imo. Even Stevie Wonder can see he finishes his races with much left in the tank that an uphill finish is hardly likely to be his undoing.

Nope. None.

Do people think Al Ferof is basically Noland mach 2? Both won the Supreme, arguably fortuitously staying on with the race falling apart around them, both careful slow jumpers, both look like they needed 3 miles in their first season novice chasing hence looked one paced over two miles and most importantly for the stat gurus, both are grey .

For those who see the above similarities i seem to recall Noland was slammed by Tidal Bay in the Arkle and if memory serves me correctly he might have plugged on for third at the one pace - i can't remember 100% as he was so far behind.

Peddlers Cross is priced up on his hurdling form not his chasing form and hasn't been seen since his apparent problems which is a negative, Al Ferof discussed above, Cue Card has a fair place chance but I think Menorah has more talent to offer if he puts in a clear round. I haven't bet in the race yet and won't be backing Sprinter Sacre at the price but do think he will hose up. I will be backing Menorah to place. People crab his jumping, fair enough, but at times he has jumped like a stag this season and if like Captain Chris he actually puts it all together for a round at the festival where he has won before i see him running a big race and placing. I also think Hobbs stable form will just take an upturn in time for the festival as there are gradually running slightly better. In my eyes it's essentially a 5 horse race so 3/1 to place looks fair. Well done to those on Sprinter Sacre at fancy antepost prices.

Bit of straw clutching re Noland imo
Noland had a year off between Supreme and Arkle with injury,so comparisms are rather iffy to say the least.
AF jumping is fine,not as flamboyant as SS,but he wont be losing lengths at the fences.He should stay close enough to be there at the finish.He aint no slow boat i know that.
confident he will run a big race.

DWM767 quote "No concerns he's a bridle monkey?".
PMSL.... nice one.

We've seen these bridle horses get beat time and again at Cheltenham, the racing is frantic and I have to watch all races again from last year just to get this thought into my thick skull.

My two penneth, if SS had clattered the first and lost to PC in their race at Kempton then there would be overhype of PC. Vice versa - had SS not clattered the last in the Supreme there would be no question marks of him staying up the hill.

I'm in the PC camp as he is the best hurdler - concerned about a recent run as I am sure there is a stat for this..... if Menorah jumps well he would have a serious chance at 11/1 as he is clearly the second best hurdler.

Just gotta love the Arkle.

Fair enough my friend,you are certainly not on your own.
Yes i think SS would have beaten AF in the Game Spirit,although destroyed i aint sure mate.
But the Arkle is what i am concerned about,and thats where i expect AF to be at his seasons peak,and at a course hes proven at.
I dont know if he will win the race,like everyone else,but i am pretty sure thats where he will run his best race of the season.

was the game spirit all that.... FO has been really well placed by mr H to win a couple of real weak grade 2,s, his high rating is from finishing 16 lengths behind SE in the QM, ISL similary placed to win a weak grade 2, when upped to the highest level he,s beaten on average 22 lengths

dwm767- If SS puts in a performance 10 lengths / lbs better than his Game Spirit win he certainly won't be "there or there abouts".

i'm with dwm.  Looking forward to laying this bridle monkey at long odds on in running.

I don't think anyone's knocking what Sprinter Sacre has achieved - it's just some of us haven't got our dicks in our hand, furiously pumping away at what he's done so far! He's got big questions to answer at Cheltenham, the field will be out to beat him, he won't get the race run to suit and all in all he's well worth taking on! If backing Novice chasers on their 4th start and first true test at 5/4 is your game then crack on!

Interpretations of time differ fanatic.  Raceform he got 112 at Doncaster, 103 at Kempton, 100 at Newbury.  For perspective, Captain Chris had a 116 prior to last year's Arkle, so on the clock he is currently 8L slower than last year's winner.  Supports the alternate view that he has not achieved nearly as much as people think.

So what do you think will win and what rating do you think he might be given if they all get round with no mishaps?

I don't think Sprinter Sacre will run up to 161 on an undulating track so I don't imagine the winners rating will be sky high!

Taking into account his run last year when he came there looking all over the winner, the fact there are 5 previous festival winners in the field  plus and any one of the top 5 in the betting could win this, 5-4 just aint value guys. I would take him on all day long. He should be, at least, 2s. That is only of course mho

How anyone can possibly put up Menorah is beyond me. And I am one of the horse's biggest fans, always have been.

But the cold, hard, truth is that he can't jump consistently. He can make a good shape at his fences but has not had one single round in four in which he hasn't made at least one very bad mistake and not been at all fluent at at least another three fences. How can he possibly jump like that and beat this lot?

Sprinter will, on average, take three lengths out of him per fence, and will land running more fluently.

Willie, I totally appreciate your position and that is the one I have been taking for most of the winter. That said, although I still wouldn't want to be on at 5/4 in this race, I don't think the price is wrong by much and fully expect this to win easily. Exacta with Cue Card is the play for me.

some ludicrous comments been made about Sprinter here