Sprinter Sacre now 6s for the Arkle Sprinter Sacre was an easy winner of the Atteys Solicitors Novices' Chase at Doncaster on Friday. Nicky Henderson's five-year-old was cut for the Arkle following the victory and is now disputing second-favouritism with Al Ferof at around 6/1 with the pair considered inferior by the bookies to market leader Peddlers Cross. There was never a doubt about the result on Town Moor, David Bass cruising to victory on the 2/9 favourite who jumped with fluency throughout. 6/1 second-favourite Lightening Rod kept tabs on him well throughout the contest but couldn't live with his speed in the straight, a beautiful leap at the last extending the winner's advantage that had grown to 24 lengths by the winning line. Bass said: "He quickened into them (fences) really well. "I schooled him at home on Monday and he really measured them very well. "Barry Geraghty is lucky to ride him for the rest of the season. "He's still in the Arkle, but he's always been the sort who could improve over fences. "He's by far the best horse I've ever ridden." Henderson, who watched the race from Cheltenham, said: "I hate to say it's what I expected, but from what I'd seen at home he's frightening, seriously good. "I just wanted to get him on a racecourse, otherwise he'd just have to stay at home and I thought this would give us enough time to go to Kempton (williamhill.com Novices' Chase, December 27). "He's a real two-miler and there wasn't much about for him at the moment." Sprinter Sacre was cut to around the 6-1 mark for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March.
