Sprinter Sacre set to peak at Festival '“ Henderson

It is three years since the 10-year-old produced a truly awesome display in steeplechasing’s two-mile showpiece before a fibrillating heart saw one of the highest-rated horses in racing history become a shadow of his former self.

However, Sprinter Sacre rolled back the years with a stirring success in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November before knuckling down to beat the 2014 Queen Mother hero Sire De Grugy in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. These wins under Nico de Boinville were sufficient to convince Henderson that Sprinter Sacre is in good enough form to take on the Willie Mullins-trained Un de Sceaux, who is hot favourite for the eagerly-awaited clash on March 16.

“Sprinter Sacre excites me,” said an uncharacteristically bullish Henderson. “He is at his best of this season now. He is in great form and we are happy with him. He is well and feisty – tanking along the gallops – I like him at the moment. His gallop on Saturday was great.

“He looks great – Nico felt he was so good at Cheltenham (Shloer Chase) first time out this season – we did have him very fit as it was the acid test.

“He was probably fresher and better at Cheltenham than he was at Kempton at Christmas. He would be a sharper horse now than at Cheltenham the first time and I think he would be a better horse than at Kempton. Also he likes Cheltenham better than Kempton.

“The gap has narrowed between Sprinter Sacre and the herd but they haven’t caught him yet. He is nicely aggressive at the moment – he wants to do it – his attitude is great.

“I would be hopeful with him at the Festival, which we are able to get to this year on his terms, without having to rush anything. I said to Nico first time out – don’t disappoint him – if he wants to take you, great. He went up the hill and suddenly took off, like he used to, and the race was dead in 10 strides.

“He got a bit tired in the end but that is where we can find a little more. Somebody, some day has got to get upside Un De Sceaux and see what happens. I hope it will be us.”

First season trainer Kerry Lee will hope to continue her remarkable run of success when the mare Goldray lines up at Wetherby today – it is 175 miles from her Herefordshire stables to West Yorkshire.

Her notable successes include Mountainous in the Welsh National and Bishops Road who ploughed through the mud to win Haydock’s Grand National trial last Saturday.

Meanwhile, trainer Harry Whittington and jockey Gavin Sheehan, one of this season’s in-form combinations, team up with the Zephyros Bleu in the handicap hurdle.

Sue Smith’s Lackamon, a last gasp winner of the North Yorkshire National at Catterick, could reappear in the four-mile Betfred Eider Chase at Newcastle on Saturday. Former winners Portrait King, Wyck Hill and Milborough, triumphant 12 months ago, all feature in the line-up.

The good run being enjoyed by High Eldwick-based Smith, who recently recorded her landmark 1,000th winner, continued at Carlisle courtesy of the Danny Cook-ridden Swing Hard. The Cumbrian track also saw course specialist Courtown Oscar prevail for the third time in 12 months for North Yorkshire trainer Phil Kirby.

David Pipe says Cheltenham’s Ryanair Chase is Dynaste’s “most likely” Festival target after the grey finished second to old nemesis Silviniaco Conti at Ascot following a wind operation.