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SPRINTER SACRE WILL not line up to defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase title at Cheltenham next month trainer Nicky Henderson has confirmed, stating that his superstar is not showing signs of his brilliant best, as he continues his recovery from an irregular heartbeat which seen his unbeaten record come to an end in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton at Christmas.
A winner of 10 straight chases prior to the Kempton disappointment, the eight-year-old had been showing some signs of progress from his heart problems but after a less than perfect piece of work on Saturday, the decision has been made to bypass the Champion Chase, a race in which he thrilled spectators with a hair raising 19-length victory last season.
Henderson told the Press Association : “He worked (on Saturday) as normal, but I just needed to see the old Sprinter back yesterday. Everything had been going very well, his work was building up. It had been OK, but I was looking for that something he shows, he is extraordinary and always used to give us that at home.
“I talked extensively with Caroline and Raymond Mould, who have been very understanding.
“I said the other week it was 50-50 (getting to Cheltenham) but quietly I thought it was above that, I honestly thought we were going the right way.
“It’s just not all there and I can’t ask a horse of his standing, I can’t sacrifice him, I think it is fairer to everybody – the horse told us what he wanted to tell us yesterday. It’s not what he’s made of.”
