Sprinter set for Cue Card clash

Exciting novices Sprinter Sacre and Cue Card are the star names among eight entries for the Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury.

Sprinter Sacre catapulted himself to the head of the betting for the Arkle Trophy at next month’s Cheltenham Festival with a jaw-dropping victory over Peddlers Cross at Kempton over Christmas.

He is now set to step outside novice company for the race better known as the Game Spirit Chase.

Colin Tizzard’s stable star Cue Card recorded his second victory over fences at Newbury on New Year’s Eve and is set for a return to the track ahead of his Arkle tilt.

Sprinter Sacre’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, has also entered French Opera.

The nine-year-old has been off the track since landing last season’s Celebration Chase at Sandown, but is officially the highest-rated horse in this field.

Paul Nicholls is set to saddle impressive Sandown winner Hold Fast, while Stagecoach Pearl, I’m So Lucky, Kinkeel and Majala complete the possibles.

The superb card received a further boost on Monday with news that the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase would be transferred from last weekend’s abandoned Sandown fixture.

The Grade One prize will be run as the Betfair Novices’ Chase and having been reopened for entries, it has attracted 12 possible runners.

Champion trainer Nicholls has Silviniaco Conti, Cedre Bleu and Pacha Du Polder in the mix, with Champion Court, For Non Stop and Bold Sir Brian other interesting contenders.

Meanwhile Last Instalment will put his unbeaten record over fences on the line in the Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Philip Fenton’s seven-year-old has barely come off the bridle on each of his three starts this season, completing the hat-trick with a brilliant Grade One-winning performance at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Fenton said: “We’ve been happy with him since he ran at Christmas. The ground was fairly good the last day and I see that it has dried out a bit at Leopardstown over the last few days, but that isn’t a worry.

“The plan is that he’ll run and he seems to be in great shape.”

Owners Gigginstown House Stud have a strong hand with Bog Warrior and Gift Of Dgab joining Last Instalment among the entries, although Bog Warrior is expected to run at Naas on Saturday instead.

Lambro and Call The Police have been given an entry for champion trainer Willie Mullins, with Shot From The Hip a major contender for Edward O’Grady.

Daffern Seal and Medical Card complete the eight possibles.

Willie Mullins’ Ut de Sivola looks poised to take the step up to Grade One class in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, also on Sunday.

The French import has made swift progress for his new trainer, taking a maiden hurdle at Clonmel and a Grade Three at Punchestown and looks one of the leading Irish contenders for the Triumph Hurdle at present.

Mullins has also entered Darroun, Midnight Oil, Shamar and Gorgeous Sixty in a contest which has attracted four possible British contenders.

John Ferguson’s Asaid, who made a smooth start at Huntingdon, could be joined by Noel Quinlan’s Crafty Roberto and two from John Quinn’s yard in useful sorts Royal Bonsai and Countrywide Flame.

Edward O’Grady’s Sportsmaster and Dermot Weld’s Hisaabaat, who was unlucky to come off second best against Ut De Sivola at Punchestown and has since finished second to Darroun, are others with claims.

Also among the 17 entries are two for Gordon Elliott through His Excellency and Shadowcatcher.

Bog Warrior is likely to return to competitive action in the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Novice Chase at Naas on Saturday.

Tony Martin’s eight-year-old has form that stands up to the closest scrutiny having beaten subsequent Arkle winner Flemenstar on his chasing debut at Navan before landing the Grade One Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse.

A heavy fall suffered at Leopardstown over Christmas has slightly held-up his season, but Martin is excited about seeing him return to the track this weekend.

“Hopefully we’ll get him out on Saturday,” Martin told At The Races.

“He seems very well and I’m very pleased with him. He’s done a lot of schooling and has been working away.

“He got hit by our other horse behind him (Gift Of Dgab), who galloped into him and got brought down. He got a blow to his head.

“We went easy with him for a couple of weeks and he seems perfect now.

“He’s always shown us he’s a very good horse. He likes to get on with it and get it done but he settles well at home and he’s just a very inexperienced horse.”