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2015 Champion Chase

Well done johnno for tipping dodging bullets, I thot he won it fair and square.Sprinter was giving an easy race round though understandably and I just wonder how he's gonna come out of this.Only henderson and geraghty know what is left with Sprinter and I hope they do the right thing with him. He's got nothing to prove and all things being equal lets hope they dont go to the well once too often with him.
 
Kudos to johnno.

I think all sides will for something to take out of it and almost an ideal result if you were promoting the race.

 
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Ian McClean

Sprinter Sacre, the highest rated horse in training - esteemed higher by Timeform than any horse since the Arkle era - reappeared for competitive action after a 386 day absence enforced by a heart condition precipitating his sole chase career defeat at Kempton when last seen on a racecourse.

Since then the rehabilitation has been painstaking; the media reporting relentless; and the nervous anticipation amongst racing folk yesterday unmistakable. Whilst the sentiment of hope was unanimous, opinion was divided between the "they never come back" merchants and the speculators whose weight of opinion and cash finally forced Sprinter Sacre's price into a heavily-supported 4/6 at the off.

Most neutrals expected the "black aeroplane" would either bolt up or bomb out. At 3.10 yesterday afternoon, we finally discovered he did neither.

In a small field featuring two in-form last-time-out Grade 1 winners and Messers Walsh, McCoy and Fehily in opposition, Barry Geraghty was never going to get it easy. Tactically, if the former-invincible returning favourite was to have a chink in his armour, it was certain to be fitness. Consequently McCoy set off like the wrath of God on Somersby and the die was cast - if Sprinter Sacre was going to return in triumph he would need his A+ Game, not just his A Game.

For the favourite it was certainly a race of two halves - in the early stages his jumping was uncharacteristically ponderous. Geraghty played defensive and sensibly tried to preciously conserve all he had - but in doing so he was disabling his strongest weapon.

However, after the turn out of Swinley Bottom, the rider gradually eased off the hand-brake over the last six obstacles and his ebony partner immediately began to throw in the type of spectacular vaults along the row of Ascot's uphill fences that characterised his former glories. Enough to even drew a gasp from the crowd at the third last.

The manoeuvre was enough to see off Twinlight and put Dodging Bullets into temporary liquidation as Sprinter Sacre went effortlessly from fourth to now stalking a foundering Somersby into the straight. However, the effort took its toll on the fuel gauge and Sprinter slowly turned to plodder as Dodging Bullets renewed his effort to get back upsides the favourite with unnervingly little resistance.

Barry Geraghty admitted afterwards that his horse "got tired very quickly" and in truth the rider was holding onto very little from the second last. Credit to the horse, even at the final fence when his goose was already cooked, Sprinter stood off and flew it. He was nursed home by Geraghty three lengths behind the Dodging Bullets in an act of preservation for the next day, when, all being equal, winner and second will rematch in the Champion Chase. Depending on your preference, you can reasonably argue Sprinter Sacre's glass as either half-empty or half-full.

What is undeniable is that the former Champion Chaser has run significantly below his previous level of form and the real question is whether this will remain his level or, if this run improves him, by how much. This question will inevitably animate many a pre-Cheltenham evening up and down the land over the coming weeks. Nicky Henderson's immediate reaction was to see the positive.

"Great! He just got a bit tired but he was full of his enthusiasm, he travelled into the straight like himself and just got tired. I'm pleased we decided to run. Only one day matters and he'll come on plenty for it," the trainer said. The rider was a bit more circumspect, commenting that he was "hopeful we'll narrow the gap come March".

Noel Fehily remarked when asked about the return of Sprinter Sacre and its value for racing "It was good to see him back - but it was very good to beat him".

The return of the king proved ultimately inconclusive and, unlike the Lord of the Rings, there is yet another chapter to look forward to in the Cotswolds on March 11.
 
Market Round Up

Bet Victor now a standout 3/1 on Sprinter Sacre

Paddy Power are 11/4 with additional benefit of NRNB.

Despite tweets that Sprinter Sacre is "a pale shadow" and "gone" from @jamesaknight Coral are no better than second best at 11/4 and have not yet gone NRNB.

Bet Victor also best about Sire De Grugy at 9/2 - the best NRNB price is 4s with Bet365.

Dodging Bullets 5s NRNB with Bet365 and Paddy Power.

Champagne Fever a best price of 8s NRNB with Betfair Sportsbook.



Clicking on links will take you to the bookmaker registration page.
 
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Old Vic said:
Market Round Up

Bet Victor now a standout 3/1 on Sprinter Sacre

Paddy Power are 11/4 with additional benefit of NRNB.

Despite tweets that Sprinter Sacre is "a pale shadow" and "gone" from @jamesaknight Coral are no better than second best at 11/4 and have not yet gone NRNB.

Bet Victor also best about Sire De Grugy at 9/2 - the best NRNB price is 4s with Bet365.

Dodging Bullets 5s NRNB with Bet365 and Paddy Power.

Champagne Fever a best price of 8s NRNB with Betfair Sportsbook.



Clicking on links will take you to the bookmaker registration page.
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Coral went 7/2 on Sprinter after the race. They were 4/1 before Christmas so maybe just balancing the book.
 
Is Dodging Bullets better than Champagne Fever ?


Trainer Age Weight Jockey SP
1st 9 Western Warhorse (IRE) D Pipe 6 11-4 h T Scudamore 33/1
Led to 2nd remained in touch, outpaced in 5th before 3 out, rallied after next, ridden and stayed on to challenge flat, led post
2nd hd 2 Champagne Fever (IRE) W P Mullins 7 11-4 R Walsh 11/4j
With leader, led 2nd, driven before 2 out, ridden and hard pressed after last, kept on under pressure flat, headed post £6600-£2400 £5500-£2000 £825-£300(x2) £6000-£2000(x4)
3rd 4 7 Trifolium (FR) C Byrnes 7 11-4 B J Cooper 11/4j
In touch, tracked leader from 3rd, challenged and every chance 2 out, ridden and one pace after last, no impression with front pair flat opened 7/2 £10000-£3000 £3500-£1000 £1500-£500
4th ¾ 3 Dodging Bullets P F Nicholls 6 11-4 D A Jacob 6/1
Tracked leaders, headway on inside 3 out, driven before next, ridden last, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th flat £2400-£400
5th 1¾ 8 Valdez A King 7 11-4 R Thornton 10/1
Tracked leaders, ridden and effort on outside before 2 out, kept on same pace and no impression flat opened 9/1
6th 2¾ 4 Grandouet (FR) N J Henderson 7 11-4 B J Geraghty 9/1
Held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace flat, never on terms
7th 1 1 Brick Red Miss V Williams 7 11-4 Aidan Coleman 66/1
Chased leaders to 3rd, soon behind, outpaced 6th, no impression when slightly hampered 2 out opened 50/1
8th 42 5 Rock On Ruby (IRE) H Fry 9 11-4 t N Fehily 5/1
In touch on outside, blundered and almost unseated rider 3rd, lost place 7th (water), struggling 9th, behind from next, tailed off £1500-£300
F 6 Ted Veale (IRE) A J Martin


 
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supreme

1st 2 Champagne Fever (IRE) W P Mullins 6 11-7 R Walsh 5/1
Made all, driven between last 2, hard pressed last, soon ridden, edged right and stayed on gamely flat opened 11/2 £18000-£3000 £10000-£2000 £5000-£1000(x3)
2nd ½ 7 My Tent Or Yours (IRE) N J Henderson 6 11-7 A P McCoy 15/8f
Raced keenly, tracked leaders on inside, switched right to challenge before last, soon upsides, ridden and every chance flat, held towards finish £1800-£800 £8500-£4000 £20000-£10000 £10000-£5000(x3) £6000-£3000 £2000-£1000(x8)
3rd 2¼ 6 Jezki (IRE) Mrs J Harrington 5 11-7 R M Power 5/1
Mid-division, headway and in touch 3 out, chased leading pair between last 2, every chance when not fluent last, one pace and held flat £50000-£10000 £5000-£1000(x4) £9000-£2000 £4500-£1000(x2)
4th 15 12 Un Atout (FR) W P Mullins 5 11-7 D N Russell 6/1
Tracked winner, blundered 3 out, driven and outpaced in 3rd between last 2, 4th and beaten when mistake last opened 7/1 £6000-£1000
5th 5 10 Puffin Billy (IRE) O Sherwood 5 11-7 L Aspell 14/1
Held up towards rear, headway to track leaders when hit 3 out, 5th when blundered next, weakened before last opened 16/1
6th ½ 9 Pique Sous (FR) W P Mullins 6 11-7 t P Townend 25/1
Keen early, held up towards rear of mid-division, outpaced when not fluent 3 out, plugged on from next, never near leaders £12500-£500
7th 5 1 Cause Of Causes (USA) G Elliott 5 11-7 D J Condon 33/1
Held up mid-division on inside, driven and lost place after 5th, ridden before 3 out, soon behind
8th 3 11 River Maigue (IRE) N J Henderson 6 11-7 B J Geraghty 18/1
Held up in touch on inside, outpaced when mistake 3 out, weakened from next opened 14/1 £50000-£3000
9th 19 4 Dodging Bullets P F Nicholls 5 11-7 D A Jacob 12/1
Mid-division, headway and brief effort on outside 3 out, weakened next
10th 10 3 Cheltenian (FR) P J Hobbs 7 11-7 R Johnson 25/1
Chased leaders, outpaced when mistake 3 out, weakening when mistake next £12500-£500
PU 5 Fire King D Steele 7 11-7 p L Treadwell 200/1
Raced in last pair, struggling 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
PU 8 Ostentation A J Lidderdale
 
I'll add to the well done's to Johnno, your confidence was well placed. I must say I was fairly impressed with Sprinter yesterday, given a very long break and the associated problems I thought it was a good run. With that under his belt and the Hendo team having a few weeks to work on him I wouldn't be in a rush to lay him now, certainly not at the available prices. If all the protaganists get to the festival in one piece and good form though I feel fairly confident that the most likely first and second will be Sire De Grugy and Sprinter, depending on how much they retain, but I don't think either will have to be at their absolute best to finish in front of everything else. You could see with the ride Geraghty gave him yesterday that they had no intention of making it a gruelling test for him, his jumping got better as the race went on and once that's right again he gains lengths at the fences which gives him a huge advantage, I just hope they all get there and it's as good a race as it promises to be.
 
Ruby

From where I was sitting, it was a good return to action for Sprinter Sacre. He jumped well, he traveled nicely and he looked a winner as we went for home. But he got a bit tired as he’s likely to do after a long layoff. It was a promising comeback, but don’t take anything away from Dodging Bullets who is now a dual Grade One winner and deserves his place as one of the main contenders for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. They went a strong gallop and it was a true test. Sprinter will have to improve and I’m sure he will, but Dodging Bullets is the one to watch for me.
Read more at http://blog.paddypower.com/2015/01/...ng-vautour-back-on-track/#z0ePhorZl4TMRwXw.99
 
MrMcGoldrick said:
I'll add to the well done's to Johnno, your confidence was well placed. I must say I was fairly impressed with Sprinter yesterday, given a very long break and the associated problems I thought it was a good run. With that under his belt and the Hendo team having a few weeks to work on him I wouldn't be in a rush to lay him now, certainly not at the available prices. If all the protaganists get to the festival in one piece and good form though I feel fairly confident that the most likely first and second will be Sire De Grugy and Sprinter, depending on how much they retain, but I don't think either will have to be at their absolute best to finish in front of everything else. You could see with the ride Geraghty gave him yesteriday that they had no intention of making it a gruelling test for him, his jumping got better as the race went on and once that's right again he gains lengths at the fences which gives him a huge advantage, I just hope they all get there and it's as good a race as it promises to be.
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We need a jock em up thread. Could have a field of 10+

I'm negative on DB but not sure what beats him.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Extraordinary time by Dodging Bullets compared with all the other races today, some pace set by AP and the big two kept going</p>— David Minton (@dminty13) <a href="https://twitter.com/dminty13/status/556554523821740034">January 17, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Jump better as the race went on, travelled superbly and just got tired in the run in. The black aeroplane hasn't completed 2mile before yesterday since May 2013. He HAS to have needed that and only went down 3lengths to a race fit rival who has won the other big race of the division this season. He was nursed along and looked after. I'm happy with that - only one day counts and we have 8 weeks to get him ready for that.

Keep the faith and fill the boots ante post lads and you will be rewarded. As Alan Lee said on the sunday forum this morning "I think we are going to look back in March and realise Sprinter Sacre at 3/1 was one of the bets of all time."
 
KingSprinterSacre said:
Jump better as the race went on, travelled superbly and just got tired in the run in. The black aeroplane hasn't completed 2mile before yesterday since May 2013. He HAS to have needed that and only went down 3lengths to a race fit rival who has won the other big race of the division this season. He was nursed along and looked after. I'm happy with that - only one day counts and we have 8 weeks to get him ready for that.

Keep the faith and fill the boots ante post lads and you will be rewarded. As Alan Lee said on the sunday forum this morning "I think we are going to look back in March and realise Sprinter Sacre at 3/1 was one of the bets of all time."
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Good to see one of the main writers get off the fence. At the bottom of the hill I thought he was going to demolish them. It is bizarre that sprinter gets pushed out for that and was cut for a gallop. They know they have a racehorse again.
 
Thought so too mate. cruised to the front 2out but just got tired. totally understandable.
 
"Bets of all time" is good but "time to bet like men" better if not PC these days ...it as used by old observer writer about Shergar ..



Now is the time to bet like men.' So began one of Richard Baerlein's pieces advising his readers to back Shergar for the 1981 Derby, and the ringing phrase soon acquired almost mythical status among Baerlein's legion of admirers. One reason was that they knew that Baerlein could be relied upon to take his own advice. Baerlein was The Observer's legendary racing correspondent from 1963 until 1993 (he died aged 84, two years later) and had a well deserved reputation as a consumate judge of horseflesh. He backed Shergar at 33-1 and at all prices down to even money. The Derby result saw him win enough money to buy a house in Sussex. He called it Shergar.
 
Having a Kevin Keegan moment


I am gonna love it when he wins the Champion Chase
 
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