Sacre faces six rivals in Chandler
Nicky Henderson has described the gelding as his “big black aeroplane” and the seven-year-old is unbeaten in his six starts over fences.
In his sole outing so far this season, he dished out a 19-and-a-half-length beating to Sanctuaire, who was thought to be the only two-miler capable of giving him a race.
Paul Nicholls has decided to pitch Sanctuaire against his old rival again after he returned to winning ways at Kempton over Christmas.
Last year’s winner Somersby is due to have his first start since his former trainer Henrietta Knight retired. He is now in the care of Mick Channon, who is better know for his runners on the level.
Alan King’s Kumbeshwar finished second in the Tingle Creek to Sprinter Sacre and is chasing more prize money while Philip Hobbs runs Wishfull Thinking.
The Venetia Williams-trained Idarah and Tony Carroll’s Kinkeel complete the field.
Lucinda Russell’s Cheltenham Gold Cup outsider Bold Sir Brian is among 11 declarations for the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock tomorrow, if the meeting survives an 8.30am this morning .
Bold Sir Brian will head the weights if the race goes ahead after Nicky Henderson decided not to declare Roberto Goldback.
Next on the list is his stablemate, Silver By Nature, who has a great record at Haydock.
Another who runs well on Merseyside is Colin Tizzard’s Cannington Brook and he is back again after winning his second Tommy Whittle at the track last month.
Tizzard will also run Hey Big Spender who has been disappointing in two runs this season.
Donald McCain’s Our Mick is due to have his first run since finishing third in the JLT Specialty Chase at Cheltenham in March while David Pipe has declared Consigliere and Tim Vaughan will run Tartak.
Venetia Williams will be represented by Summery Justice but not Katenko while Sue Smith’s Gansey, Brian Ellison’s Neptune Equester and Malcolm Jefferson’s Mac Aeda will aim to keep the prize up north.
