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25 Mar 13
19:43
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By David Baxter 25 MAR 2013
THE BIG question surrounding Sprinter Sacre's possible participation in next week's John Smith's Melling Chase is whether Nicky Henderson's star will get the 2m4f trip.
However, Paddy Power are convinced, making the seven-year-old 1-3 favourite for the race.
Flemenstar and Cue Card are the main dangers to Sprinter Sacre's unbeaten record over fences, and the firm are offering a juicy 4-1 for Flemenstar, and 7-1 for Ryanair Chase winner Cue Card.
Paddy Power said: "Sprinter Sacre is arguably the best chaser I've ever seen. But let's not forget Flemenstar is unbeaten over 2m4f (over fences) with the minimum margin of victory being five lengths over Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs. And Cue Card's not bad either!"
The prices for the race will be available on Paddy Power's website from 5pm, along with the John Smith's Aintree Hurdle, for which Henderson has the joint-favourite, Oscar Whisky.
Winner of the last two runnings, the eight-year-old is 3-1 for the hat-trick, along with Zarkandar, with Neptune winner The New One just behind the pair at 100-30.
For the big race, the John Smith's Grand National, Paddy Power went non-runner no bet as of midday on Monday.
Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch described the ground as 'around soft' at Aintree and said: "We have no snow here at the moment and plenty of grass.
"If we need to put frost covers down we will make that decision but it is not something we are looking at at the moment."
Melling Chase
Paddy Power: 1-3 Sprinter Sacre, 4-1 Flemenstar, 7-1 Cue Card, 20-1 bar
Aintree Hurdle
Paddy Power: 3-1 Oscar Whisky, Zarkandar, 100-30 The New One, 9-2 Countrywide Flame, Grandouet, 10-1
By David Baxter 25 MAR 2013
THE BIG question surrounding Sprinter Sacre's possible participation in next week's John Smith's Melling Chase is whether Nicky Henderson's star will get the 2m4f trip.
However, Paddy Power are convinced, making the seven-year-old 1-3 favourite for the race.
Flemenstar and Cue Card are the main dangers to Sprinter Sacre's unbeaten record over fences, and the firm are offering a juicy 4-1 for Flemenstar, and 7-1 for Ryanair Chase winner Cue Card.
Paddy Power said: "Sprinter Sacre is arguably the best chaser I've ever seen. But let's not forget Flemenstar is unbeaten over 2m4f (over fences) with the minimum margin of victory being five lengths over Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs. And Cue Card's not bad either!"
The prices for the race will be available on Paddy Power's website from 5pm, along with the John Smith's Aintree Hurdle, for which Henderson has the joint-favourite, Oscar Whisky.
Winner of the last two runnings, the eight-year-old is 3-1 for the hat-trick, along with Zarkandar, with Neptune winner The New One just behind the pair at 100-30.
For the big race, the John Smith's Grand National, Paddy Power went non-runner no bet as of midday on Monday.
Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch described the ground as 'around soft' at Aintree and said: "We have no snow here at the moment and plenty of grass.
"If we need to put frost covers down we will make that decision but it is not something we are looking at at the moment."
Melling Chase
Paddy Power: 1-3 Sprinter Sacre, 4-1 Flemenstar, 7-1 Cue Card, 20-1 bar
Aintree Hurdle
Paddy Power: 3-1 Oscar Whisky, Zarkandar, 100-30 The New One, 9-2 Countrywide Flame, Grandouet, 10-1
Show More
AINTREE RACECOURSE MEDIA RELEASE
http://myemail.constantcontact.com
for immediate release, Tuesday, March 26, 2013
SUPERB CLASH ON THE CARDS IN JOHN SMITH'S MELLING CHASE
Trainer Colin Tizzard is looking forward to a potential clash with Sprinter Sacre and Irish ace Flemenstar after confirming his stable star Cue Card is on course for the £200,000 Grade One John Smith's Melling Chase (3.05pm) over two and a half miles at Aintree on Ladies' Day of the John Smith's Grand National meeting, Friday, April 5.
Cue Card has established himself as the leading intermediate chaser this term with emphatic victories in Exeter's sportingbet Haldon Gold Cup, the Ascot Chase and the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this month, when he slammed Grade One scorer First Lieutenant by nine lengths.
The seven-year-old could renew his rivalry with Sprinter Sacre, who confirmed himself one of the best chasers of modern times with a breathtaking 19-length romp in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The pair met in last season's Racing Post Arkle Chase over two miles at Cheltenham with Sprinter Sacre running out a seven-length winner, although Nicky Henderson's charge will be tackling two and a half miles over fences for the first time at Aintree.
Irish raider Flemenstar adds further spice to the contest after missing the Cheltenham Festival with a lung infection. Peter Casey's star is a three-time Grade One winner over fences and brushed aside subsequent Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in December.
Tizzard revealed: "Cue Card is on course for the John Smith's Melling Chase. He did some fast work today and he couldn't be in better form.
"I'd say it was one of his best performances at Cheltenham but he was very good at Ascot and his win in the Haldon Gold Cup was right up there.
"He has had one blip all season and that was in the King George but I don't think he was quite right myself. Horses aren't machines and you need everything to be 100 per cent in these championship races and I don't think he was on song that day.
"He has been top-class in his three other performances this season and has been as good as nearly everything else racing.
"I think the John Smith's Melling Chase is shaping up to be a very, very good race if all three of them turn up. We have avoided Sprinter Sacre once already this year but this is over two and a half miles, which is Cue Card's trip.
"After his last two performances, we are entitled to think we have the best two and a half miler but I have no reason to doubt that Sprinter Sacre will get the trip.
"We got within seven lengths of him last year in the Arkle but I feel we are a much better horse this year whereas Sprinter Sacre hasn't had a hard race since then. We don't know if he is better compared to last season because he hasn't been tested."
Aintree's John Smith's Grand National meeting gets underway on Grand Opening Day, Thursday, April 4, which features four Grade Ones on a fantastic seven-race card, while the £975,000 John Smith's Grand National is the highlight on Grand National Day, Saturday April 6.
For further information, please contact:
Nigel Payne, Aintree's Press Officer
on 07768 025265 or e-mail nigel@earthsummit.demon.co.uk
http://myemail.constantcontact.com
for immediate release, Tuesday, March 26, 2013
SUPERB CLASH ON THE CARDS IN JOHN SMITH'S MELLING CHASE
Trainer Colin Tizzard is looking forward to a potential clash with Sprinter Sacre and Irish ace Flemenstar after confirming his stable star Cue Card is on course for the £200,000 Grade One John Smith's Melling Chase (3.05pm) over two and a half miles at Aintree on Ladies' Day of the John Smith's Grand National meeting, Friday, April 5.
Cue Card has established himself as the leading intermediate chaser this term with emphatic victories in Exeter's sportingbet Haldon Gold Cup, the Ascot Chase and the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this month, when he slammed Grade One scorer First Lieutenant by nine lengths.
The seven-year-old could renew his rivalry with Sprinter Sacre, who confirmed himself one of the best chasers of modern times with a breathtaking 19-length romp in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The pair met in last season's Racing Post Arkle Chase over two miles at Cheltenham with Sprinter Sacre running out a seven-length winner, although Nicky Henderson's charge will be tackling two and a half miles over fences for the first time at Aintree.
Irish raider Flemenstar adds further spice to the contest after missing the Cheltenham Festival with a lung infection. Peter Casey's star is a three-time Grade One winner over fences and brushed aside subsequent Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in December.
Tizzard revealed: "Cue Card is on course for the John Smith's Melling Chase. He did some fast work today and he couldn't be in better form.
"I'd say it was one of his best performances at Cheltenham but he was very good at Ascot and his win in the Haldon Gold Cup was right up there.
"He has had one blip all season and that was in the King George but I don't think he was quite right myself. Horses aren't machines and you need everything to be 100 per cent in these championship races and I don't think he was on song that day.
"He has been top-class in his three other performances this season and has been as good as nearly everything else racing.
"I think the John Smith's Melling Chase is shaping up to be a very, very good race if all three of them turn up. We have avoided Sprinter Sacre once already this year but this is over two and a half miles, which is Cue Card's trip.
"After his last two performances, we are entitled to think we have the best two and a half miler but I have no reason to doubt that Sprinter Sacre will get the trip.
"We got within seven lengths of him last year in the Arkle but I feel we are a much better horse this year whereas Sprinter Sacre hasn't had a hard race since then. We don't know if he is better compared to last season because he hasn't been tested."
Aintree's John Smith's Grand National meeting gets underway on Grand Opening Day, Thursday, April 4, which features four Grade Ones on a fantastic seven-race card, while the £975,000 John Smith's Grand National is the highlight on Grand National Day, Saturday April 6.
For further information, please contact:
Nigel Payne, Aintree's Press Officer
on 07768 025265 or e-mail nigel@earthsummit.demon.co.uk
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