‘Frankel over fences’ ready for showdown

Known also as “the black horse”, it sees Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old step up in trip to two-and-a-half miles in a race that sees Sprinter Sacre take on Cue Card, the Ryanair Chase hero, and Flemenstar, the rising star of Irish racing.

The significance does not end here. Henderson wants to race Sprinter Sacre over longer trips, while not denting the horse’s athleticism, so he has more options for next season.

Victory would also give Henderson an unassailable lead in his quest to become champion trainer for the first time since the mid-Eighties, given that the winner will receive over £112,000.

“It’s got to be one of the races of the season,” said Henderson. “We were talking to his breeders after Cheltenham and looking back through his dam’s side there is stamina everywhere – they can’t believe he has been running over two (miles).

“You can’t teach him to go that extra half-a-mile – he just does his own thing. Aintree and Cheltenham are two different tracks, but we’ve got to try something new.”

Like at Cheltenham, Joe Tizzard intends to set the pace on Cue Card, who is trained by his father Colin.

“I don’t think there are any chinks in Sprinter Sacre, but it’s over two and a half and I’ll make a test of it,” said the jockey.

“He’s a very, very good horse. We wouldn’t go to two miles to take Sprinter Sacre on, but if he wants to come up to the trip, we’ll look forward to the challenge.”

Tom Scudamore believes everything should be in Dynaste’s favour for the John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase.

The David Pipe-trained grey was beaten by a Bryan Cooper-inspired Benefficent in the Jewson Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. Having taken the lead on the turn for home, a lack of race fitness appeared to tell against Dynaste.

“Everything should be right up his street, the trip, the ground and the track,” said Scudamore.