Doubts Cast Over Sprinter Sacre Clarence House Appearance

Six are expected to line up for Saturday`s Clarence House Chase (3:00) though there are doubts over the current 6/4 favourite Sprinter Sacre. Connections of the 9-year-old have told reporters that the horse will be pulled from the race should they consider the conditions to be too heavy.

Long-time companion Barry Geraghty told At The Races that whilst the horse seems well in himself, they would have no desire to run him should the weather pan out as forecast.

`He`s in good form, Nico (de Boinville) schooled him on Friday morning. I wasn`t there, but the reports were good.` The forecast is pretty wet and it just depends how bad it gets, we wouldn`t want it too heavy.`

Should Sprinter Sacre make it to Ascot on Saturday, it will be his first race since pulling up in the Grade Two Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton just over a year ago. It was discovered that the seven-time Grade One winner was suffering from a fibrillating heart and all measures, including surgery, have been undertaken to ensure that the horse is back to full health.

The two-time Cheltenham Festival winner can be backed at 6/4 with betfred, Spreadex and Totesport ahead of his potential reappearance at two miles and a furlong.

Otherwise, trainer Nicky Henderson is said to be looking at the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury at the beginning of February.

Henderson should also saddle the experienced French Opera this weekend who is 25/1 (Numerous) after having failed to pick up a win since 2011.

The 12-year-old went close last time out in a handicap at Wetherby, finishing just three-quarters of a length behind eventual winner Upsilon Bleu. That race was rated just 149 though and he will need to step up dramatically to compete with his stablemate rated 188.

Second favourite for Saturday is reigning Tingle Creek champion Dodging Bullets for Paul Nicholls` yard. That Sandown success was the horse`s first since December 2013 and can be picked up at 2/1 with most bookmakers to get the better of the highest-rated chaser in training.

Dodging Bullets is a four-time chase winner at sixteen furlongs with his last two victories coming on soft ground. This will be the seven-year-old`s first time at Ascot but fine form at both Kempton and Sandown suggests that the course will suit him well.

Finishing behind the Manor House charge in the Tingle Creek was Somersby, who is also declared to run at Ascot this weekend.

There is no reason to suggest that Mick Channon`s entrant should reverse the form on his December opponent, though the horse has had some strong Ascot results that stretch back to his days as a novice hurdler. More recently, he took home the 2012 renewal of this very race and was second and seven lengths behind Al Ferof in this season`s Amlin 1965 at two miles and three.

Ladbrokes have priced the horse up at 11/2 to steal something of an unlikely victory.

The remaining two players are Willie Mullins` 7/1 (Numerous) shout Twinlight and Grey Gold, the outsider of the field for Richard Lee at 40/1 (Numerous).

Should he turn out at Ascot it will be Twinlight`s first appearance since winning the Grade One paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown in the final week of December.

Twinlight was a 16/1 chance for that chase but coped the best with the testing weather and heavy going to see off such well fancied competition as Uxiazndre, Ballycasey and Hidden Cyclone. Consequentially, the Mullins team will be relaxed about the impending downpours as their entrant goes for back-to-back 17 furlong wins. Grey Gold takes a step up in class after mixed results in a number of two mile handicaps.

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13/01/2015     © Frixo 2026