Sacre not certain for Sandown

Nicky Henderson has yet to make a final decision on whether Sprinter Sacre will make his eagerly-awaited return to action in the 888sport Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on December 6.

The superstar two-miler has not run since being pulled up by Barry Geraghty in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton last Christmas, after which he was diagnosed with a heart problem.

That was rectified some time ago, but Henderson is hanging fire on the green light for Sandown, in a race he won with ease in 2012. He said: “We’re reasonably close, we’ve just got to see. I’ll know by Tuesday or Wednesday where we are. It doesn’t even mean he can’t do a racecourse gallop this week if we get the all-clear. He’s had his all-clear from Newmarket (equine specialists) and everything is tickety boo.”