Melling stroll for sublime Sacre

It was supposed to be the race of the season but the John Smith’s Melling Chase served as just another opportunity to look on with wonder at Sprinter Sacre.

That connections of Cue Card and Flemenstar had no excuses and could only offer their own assessments of Sprinter Sacre’s greatness tells its own story.

Henderson clutched a rail by the Aintree winner’s enclosure with anxiety as the race unfolded but nerves were swiftly followed by misty-eyed relief as the 1-3 favourite strolled clear without jockey Barry Geraghty moving a muscle.