Geraghty: Punchestown next for Sprinter Sacre
Updated: Thursday, 14 Mar 2013 11:19 | Comments
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Sprinter Sacre is very likely to be next seen at the Punchestown Festival, according to jockey Barry Geraghty.
The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in spectacular fashion yesterday, strolling to a 19-length victory that had commentators reaching for the superlatives.
Only champion Sizing Europe was able to live with the brilliant seven-year-old, the Henry De Bromhead-trained former winner eventually finishing a punch-drunk second.
Geraghty, former jockey of the brilliant two-time winner Moscow Flyer, was as impressed as anyone.
Speaking to Darren Frehill on Morning Ireland, he said: “Sprinter Sacre just does things with such ease. I’ve never ridden a horse that travels as easily through a race. You’re talking about a top class two-mile chase and I feel like I’m in third gear the whole way through.
“When I want him to go he accelerates with ease. He’s like a fast car, everything around him happens so slowly because he finds it so easy."
With no races in England for the seven-year-old superstar, the Boylesports.com Champion Chase on 24 April at Punchestown is the most likely target.
Henderson, a fan of the Punchestown Festival, mentioned the race as a possible target immediately after yesterday's tour de force.
Geraghty added this morning: "There’s a very good chance that Sprinter Sacre will go to Punchestown. There is no two-mile chase for him at Aintree so Punchestown would be the obvious race if he was to have another run and I’d say he probably will."
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