Racecards
13:50 Cheltenham
Victor Chandler Chase (Registered As The Clarence House Chase) (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £70,000 added
- Winner: £39,389
- 2nd: £14,840
- 3rd: £7,427
- 4th: £3,710
- Form 627FP
- Age 14
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Matthew Batchelor
chased clear leader to 2nd, soon towards rear, struggling 6th, continued tailed off
- Form 2F122
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
in touch main group, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, no chance with leaders
- Form 1-R304
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
allowed clear lead to 5th, headed 7th, outpaced in 4th 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd final 75 yards, no chance with easy winner
- Form 7B6-16
- Age 11
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
held up in main group, driven and outpaced 3 out, no chance with leaders
- Form 111-31
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 167
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
led in start, held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway to track leading pair after 4 out, driven and one pace approaching 2 out, never on terms, weakened into 4th last
- Form 24172-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 165
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey D Elsworth
in touch main group, close up 5th, went 2nd 9th, ridden and no chance with winner before 2 out, lost 2nd final 75 yards
- Form 1111-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 179
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked clear leader before 2nd, close up 5th, led 7th, made rest, drew clear on bit when pecked slightly 2 out, unchallenged
Verdict
SPRINTER SACRE has the incredibly high rating of 179 over fences and it's not difficult to understand why. The most exciting two-miler seen for some time, he's hardly been out of a canter in all six starts over fences and had no problems whatsoever picking off the front-running Sanctuaire in the Tingle Creek at Sandown. The latter has since easily reversed form with Sandown runner-up Kumbeshwar in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid at Kempton and can beat that rival again while he also holds a verdict over the returning Somersby at Sandown last April. The remainder are playing for places with Oiseau De Nuit, who easily beat Kumbeshwar at Chepstow in October, possibly the best of them.
Formwatch
Kinkeel (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Led to 8th, led again before 10th, headed 4 out, weakened and lost remote 3rd when jumped right 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Loughalder (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy, 6 ran.
Kumbeshwar 5-1 (11-6) Prominent, not fluent 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no impression, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Sanctuaire (11-10) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Mad Moose (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up in last trio, chased leaders briefly before 2 out, went moderate 4th between last 2, no chance with leaders, 4th of 7, 32l behind Zarkandar (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) hvy in Dec.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 5 out, behind from next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Shooters Wood (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec.
Sanctuaire (FR) 11-8fav (11-10) Led, rider lost whip some time after 5th, ridden and headed after 4 out, led again before 2 out, clear approaching last, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec beating Kumbeshwar (11-6) by 13l, 5 ran.
Somersby (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Held up in 5th and off the pace, went 4th 4 out, went 2nd approaching and plenty to do when hit 2 out, plugged on, never able to challenge, 2nd of 8, 17l behind Sanctuaire (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) sft in Apr.
Sprinter Sacre (FR) 4-11fav (11-7) Chased clear leader, not fluent 4th, took closer order 4 out, led next, quickened clear before last, unextended, very impressive, won at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec beating Kumbeshwar (11-7) by 15l, 7 ran.
Esteem 16-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 6th, ridden and weakened after 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Master Of The Sea (11-7) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
William's Wishes (IRE) Evensfav (11-11) Held up in rear, headway to 4th 4 out, went 3rd travelling well before mistake and stumbled 2 out, recovered and switched right before last, challenged last, led and edged left flat, ridden out, won at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) sft beating Nozic (9-10) by 2l, 6 ran.