Cheltenham preview (14.10): Sprinter Sacre for Shloer Chase

David Metcalf | November 14, 2015

Sprinter Sacre looks well-teated on return to action in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham (14.10) and can take advantage to get back on the winning trail.

This Nicky Henderson trained gelding won his first 10 starts over fences in facile fashion, and looked one of the best 2m chasers seen for a long time when landing the 2013 running of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on the bridle by 19 lengths.

The nine-year-old went on to land Grade 1 contests at Aintree and Punchestown before suffering his first defeat over fences when pulled-up in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton in December of the same year when found to be suffering with a heart problem.

It was then a long road back for Sprinter Sacre and, although below his brilliant best in three runs last season, he showed enough to suggest he can win a race of this nature.

Sprinter can respond round a course he loves

In particular, he ran a blinder first time up when chasing home Dodging Bullets in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot after 386 days on the sidelines.

Sprinter showed plenty of his old zest and travelled well for much of the race until being unable to find any extra in the latter stages to be beaten three lengths.

The winner went on to land the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and the form reads extremely well in the context of this contest.