Sprinter Sacre leaps to Arkle favouritism

Report: Kempton, Tuesday

Williamhill.com Novices' Chase (Registered as the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase) (Grade 2 ) 2m, 4yo+

SPRINTER SACRE leapt to the top of the pecking order in the 2m novice chase division after he thrashed Peddlers Cross at Kempton on Tuesday.

Peddlers Cross, the star of trainer Donald McCain's stable, was two from two over fences and was sent off the 4-5 favourite to maintain his unbeaten chasing record, but he had no answer to the Nicky Henderson-trained Sprinter Sacre, who scooted clear to win by 16 lengths under Barry Geraghty.

William Hill reacted by making the stylish winner their 11-4 favourite (from 6) for the Irish Independent Arkle Chase at Cheltenham, while they eased Peddlers Cross to 6-1 (from 7-2).

Paddy Power went 5-2 (from 6) for the Arkle about Sprinter Sacre, who was third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last season and hacked up on his first start over fences atDoncaster three weeks ago.

"Chasing was always going to be his game and his jumping today was as good as it gets," said Henderson.

"I don't think either of us [Peddlers Cross] wanted to take each other on at this stage but I wasn't going to duck out and, as it turns out, we've got our head in front today.

"He'll probably have one more run before Cheltenham."

A step up in trip could be on the agenda for Peddlers Cross, who is 12-1 with Stan James for the RSA Chase over 3m at the Cheltenham Festival.

He had impressed with two easy successes at Bangor, but was not as fluent at Kempton.

"We learned plenty and so did he," said McCain, who trains the son of Oscar for Tim Leslie.

"He gave the first fence a good rub and gave himself a bit of a fright. He took a while to recover and it's not the biggest surprise [that] we might try him over further, I'll have to talk to the owner."