Betfair Super Saturday Chase (Registered As The Game Spirit Chase) 2012

12.10 Newbury

Betfair Super Saturday Chase (Registered As The Game Spirit Chase) (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner £17,085

Advice: 3.5 pts win Sprinter Sacre (8/13 Hills), 2 pt double Sprinter Sacre (12.10), Long Run (12.45)

French Opera: Consistent and reliable sort who won this really well last season before a typical front running performance saw him take the Celebration Chase when last seen; Has to give 5lbs and upwards to rivals this time round on first start since so passed over despite good record at this level.

Sprinter Sacre: Promising over hurdles, bettering his two impressive wins with a third in the Supreme novices hurdle; Flawless in two wins over fences, taking the Arkle market by the scruff of the neck when destroying the Champion Hurdle runner up Peddlers Cross, in a match at Kempton; Clearly all wasn’t well with the runner up that day but he was undeniably impressive and sets a high standard even over his elders.

Zaynar: Had proven disappointing since promising so much as 4 & 5 y-o for Nicky Henderson over 2 years, ending up with current yard after being moved; Looked to be showing old sparkle when running out wide margin winner of Grade 2 event at Ascot in December; Creditable fourth under topweight in handicap there but looks little exposed now, for all that he’s run well on last three starts.

Hold Fast: Shown vast improvement in just two runs this season, using a staying on effort at Newbury as a springboard to empathic handicap win at Sandown latest; Well worth a step up to Graded company on the back of that and interesting to see if he steps forward from that once again.

 

I’m So Lucky: Bold front runner who landed biggest win in Celebration Chase nearly two years ago; Has a smaller field than usual so interesting to see how fast he goes from the front, although he did get brushed aside pretty easily in the Victor Chandler Chase.

Kinkeel: Here just to get round.

VERDICT: A terrific start to a great day’s racing. Arkle favourite SPRINTER SACRE still has it to prove around Cheltenham at the Festival and beat a below par Peddlers Cross at Kempton, but you couldn’t deny his jumping or speed that day and a similar performance should see him beat the progressive Hold Fast and last year’s winner Zanyar. For that matter, he looks well worth backing in a double with Long Run in the next.