Sprinter is on his marks for Festival battle

It began when he partnered the novice Coneygree to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory 12 months ago – and continued when he rode Altior to victory in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race of the 2016 National Hunt Festival.

Yet victory today for the former steeplechasing superstar Sprinter Sacre in today’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase would eclipse both of these triumphs.

After nearly two years on the sidelines, Nicky Henderson’s stable jockey has been instrumental in the revival of the third highest rated chaser in National Hunt history with an emotional comeback win at Cheltenham last November followed up by a hard-fought success over Sire De Grugy, the 2014 Champion Chase hero, at Kempton last December.

Like Henderson, the horse’s big race jockey – who was previously known as Sprinter Sacre’s gallops rider before teaming up with the now sidelined Coneygree – knows the breathtaking brilliance of the past will not be repeated.

However, De Boinville is hopeful that Sprinter Sacre can, at the very least, challenge the hot favourite Un De Sceaux who won last year’s Racing Post Arkle Trophy and is another potential ‘banker’ for Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins, and jockey Ruby Walsh, following their first-day treble in Douvan, Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag.

“I wouldn’t put a percentage as to where he is. I think we’ve done a great job getting him back to this kind of ability,” he said last night.

“I’m not saying he will ever be that scintillating horse he once was, but to go into the Champion Chase with a great chance is just a great feeling because a year-and a-half-ago we were wondering where the hell we were.

“If he reproduces the form he showed around Cheltenham the first time I think we’ve got a great chance.

“He has had a good break so we go there with every chance,” he added.

However, De Boinville respects the credentials of Un De Sceaux who completed his Cheltenham preparations with victory in Ascot’s Clarence House Chase.

The last three Queen Mother winners won this Ascot test and De Boinville said: “Un De Sceaux looked very impressive winning the Clarence House.

“The way he quickened up there turning into the straight was impressive. We’ve got our work cut and if you go on the form of Sire De Grugy we are going to have to step up again.

“I won’t be riding him to beat Un De Sceaux, as you just have to ride Sprinter as he wants to be ridden and see how the race pans out.

“His jumping could well help him. He is a very reliable and economical jumper.

“Un De Sceaux has made mistakes in the past.”

As well as former champions Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy, the 2015 winner Dodging Bullets adds even more depth to the field for this two mile championship race which also includes Just Cameron from Micky Hammond’s Middleham yard – this is the rank outsider being ridden by Sheffield-born Joe Colliver after the horse’s owners, Paul and Jean Chapman, won the National Lottery.

The chief supporting race is the RSA Chase for novice steeplechasers in which No More Heroes could prevail for Ireland-based Gordon Elliott and jockey Bryan Cooper over the likes of Jonjo O’Neill’s More Of That and Seeyouatmdnight for Scottish trainer Sandy Thomson.

Elliott said: “He’s not the biggest horse in the world, but he’s big enough. Sometimes those bigger horses are harder to keep sound – he’s just the perfect size. He’s a stayer, but he’s not slow, either.

“Jumping is his game and I think Cheltenham will suit.”

As for Cooper, he said: “Jumping seems to be his forte and he’s always looking for the next fence. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do over here, but he’s going to have to be on his A-game now,” he said.

Alan King is bullish about Yanworth as JP McManus’s exciting prospect bids for a five-timer in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, today’s curtain-raiser.

King has made no secret of how highly he rates Yanworth, who has come on in leaps and bounds switching to hurdling after finishing fourth in last year’s Champion Bumper.

After landing his first two novice hurdles at prohibitive odds at Exeter and Warwick, Yanworth was again a very short price as he trotted up in the Grade Two Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle at Ascot.

Impressive though those victories were, Yanworth stepped up another gear when beating a strong field with consummate ease over an extended two-and-a-half miles in the Classic Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials’ Day in January.

Yorkhill heads a four-strong assault from the Willie Mullins stable after being switched from Tuesday’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The Graham Wylie-owned six-year-old won the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on only his second start over the smaller obstacles.