Peddlers and Sacre face Kempton showdown

Donald McCain insists the presence of Sprinter Sacre was never going to deter him from running his star turn Peddlers Cross in an exciting renewal of the Williamhill.com Novices’ Chase at Kempton tomorrow.

Last season’s Champion Hurdle runner-up has made an excellent start to his career over the larger obstacles, winning a couple of minor events at Bangor, where his jumping impressed.

The Arkle Trophy favourite takes a big jump back up in class to face Sprinter Sacre in the race better known as the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase, but McCain is not concerned.

“I don’t get excited when he runs, that’s not really a word I’d choose, I leave it to other people to get excited,” said McCain,

“He’s a smashing horse, everybody knows what I think about him, and he’s ready to go.

“We wanted to go to Haydock the other week but after the first race there, Jason (Maguire) told me if I’d declared him he’d have told me to take him out as the ground was that bad.

“I certainly wouldn’t change my plans depending on what ever else runs, I’ll be doing the best for the horse.”

The Arkle picture could be a lot clearer after the Grade Two contest, with impressive Doncaster winner Sprinter Sacre currently second in the betting for the Cheltenham Festival heat.

Nicky Henderson’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle third did not reach the same heights as Peddlers Cross over timber, but it was hard not to be impressed by his Town Moor romp.

Echoing McCain’s sentiments, the master of Seven Barrows says he was not going to change running plans just because Peddlers Cross will be in the line up.

“He’s in great form and we always said we were going here, so that’s what we’re going to do,” said Henderson.

“Peddlers Cross wasn’t originally meant to be running, but I’m not going to change my mind or my plans because he’s coming.

“Our horse jumped absolutely beautifully at Doncaster and this has been his aim since.”

Sprinter Sacre’s jockey Barry Geraghty is looking forward to the clash and has always felt his mount would come into his own over fences.

“The Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase is going to be a real thriller because Sprinter Sacre goes head to head with Peddlers Cross,” Geraghty said in his At The Races blog.

“It’s no secret that I think the world of my horse, who was impressive on his chase debut at Doncaster under David Bass on one of those days where I wanted to be in two places but had to be at Cheltenham.

“He was an exciting two-mile hurdler but will be even more exciting as a two-mile chaser.

“This was always going to be his target but Peddlers Cross is very welcome to make it one of the races of Christmas.

“It’s a hot one, all right – but mine’s hot stuff.”

The third and final declared runner, and likely to be a huge outsider, is Harry Hunt.

Graeme McPherson’s four-year-old could hardly have picked a stronger event in which to make his chasing debut, but is at least guaranteed to pick up some prize-money if he completes the course.