Sprinter Sacre to gallop at Newbury racecourse
Popular chaser Sprinter Sacre is to work at Newbury ahead of racing next week (Monday 29 December).
The winner of the 2013 Champion Chase at Cheltenham has been out of action since last December when he pulled up in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.
He had won 10 chases in a row before being pulled up due to an irregular heartbeat, which then corrected itself.
The eight-year-old gelding to ruled out of the 2014 race, as he was ruled by his trainer Nicky Henderson as “not showing the same brilliance as he did last season”.
After the summer Sprinter Sacre was due to run in the Tingle Creek at the beginning of December — a race he won in 2012 — but was deemed “not ready” but in full health by trainer Nicky Henderson.
Nicky has reportedly been pleased with his star’s work in recent weeks and so wants to give the eight-year-old a racecourse gallop before the horse races again.
Sprinter Sacre will work before fans at Newbury’s Christmas meeting under regular jockey Barry Geraghty.
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The gelding will be in the parade ring at 11.30am and will complete a circuit of the course at 11.45am with a stablemate — jumping fences in the home straight.
“We are delighted that the highest profile horse in jump racing will be working and schooling at Newbury on Monday under his regular rider Barry Geraghty,” said Newbury’s Andy Clifton.
“It is a great gesture by Nicky Henderson to allow this to happen on our Festive raceday, so that as many people as possible can see Sprinter Sacre back on the racecourse.”
For more information visit: www.newburyracecourse.co.uk
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.