Sprinter Sacre And Sire De Grugy Face Off

Both Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy are available at 7/2 for tomorrow`s main event, the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The pair have both just returned from being sidelined with long-term injuries but are still well supported to pick up the 2m prize. The former will be looking to give Nicky Henderson his first win of the Festival with the latter aiming to do the business for father and son team Gary and Jamie Moore.

There should, in theory, be very little to choose between the joint-favourites following similar sorts of runs on their full reappearances. Sire De Grugy unseated Jamie Moore on his Newbury opener but followed this up with a seven length class two victory at Chepstow at this distance a fortnight later.

Whilst Sprinter Sacre failed to win on his only run of the season, it was against higher quality opposition, failing to regain his crown in the Grade One Clarence House Chase at Ascot. The 2013 Queen Mother winner completed three lengths behind Dodging Bullets in this 17f race though he is expected to have improved considerably from this seasonal opener.

This performance, for me, gives Sprinter Sacre the advantage in this renewal. For those wanting to use him as a yardstick, Grey Gold finished second behind the reigning Queen Mother champion at Chepstow but was dead-last, a full 21 lengths off Sire De Grugy`s main market rival at Ascot.

The latter`s jockey Barry Geraghty will also be on a high following his solid opening day, another aspect that should just give him the edge.

Champagne Fever will be looking to give the trio of Rich Ricci, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh their third team Festival title, with bookmakers pricing up the former Supreme Novices` Hurdle winner at 5/1.

In his corner is the fact that he won`t be setting off as favourite, Champagne Fever has been a beaten market leader three times, including when the favourite for last year`s Arkle losing out to Western Warhorse by a head. The 162 rated chaser is more used to longer distances now, competing at trips of at least 20f on all of his last four outings and stepping back down to 2m might prove tough. Indeed, the Irish raider will also favour cut in the ground and not getting this may just prove to be the difference.

Dodging Bullets has turned out at the last three Cheltenham Festivals but has failed to land a blow in any of his previous appearances at 2m distances. The Paul Nicholls mount does seem to be in the form of his life though he will have to get the better of Sprinter Sacre once again. The two-time Grade One chase winner will also have to overcome his aversion to the Festival, though he was a three-time Cheltenham hurdles victor.

Mr Mole is the only other horse in the 11 strong field to be available at a single figure price. Having said this, paddy Power is still offering this second Nicholls Charge at 10/1. Mr Mole scooped a 17f Grade Two at Newbury last time out in the race in which Sire De Grugy unseated Moore in his highly anticipated reappearance. This has been the McManus horse`s only graded win of date, a victory he perhaps wouldn`t have earned had the then odds-on favourite not had shipped Moore. Consequentially, the seven-year-old might find himself outclassed here.

The best of the remainder might be 25/1 shot (Numerous) Special Tiara, 13-year-old former Queen Mother winner Sizing Europe (66/1 - Stan James) and one of two 100/1-priced Gigginstown runners Savello (888sport, ladbrokes).

Go To bet365

#Ad

10/03/2015     © Frixo 2026