2012 Game Spirit Chase Odds and Betting Preview: Arkle favourite Sprinter Sacre takes on the big boys

NEWBURY, UK - The Game Spirit Chase, now known as the Betfair Super Saturday Chase, attracts some of the best two-mile steeplechasers around before the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. It is run over two miles and one furlong at Newbury racecourse, and this year two of the three horses at the head of the betting are novices, including the Arkle Chase favourite Sprinter Sacre. 

The race has been won by the likes of Viking Flagship, Azertyuiop and Master Minded before they went on to triumph in the Queen Mother the following month, so punters can expect a shake-up in the ante-post markets in the immediate aftermath of the race. There are 13 fences to be jumped in total and the going is forecast to be good to soft. It is live on Channel 4 and Newbury is offering free admission for racegoers this Friday.

Sprinter Sacre heads the betting for the race at 8/13 (bet £130 to make £80 profit) with William Hill, and his trainer Nicky Henderson won the race last year with French Opera. Sprinter Sacre is only a novice, having had just two starts over fences, but he won both races by wide margins so he is entitled to step up in grade. Jockey Barry Geraghty describes the son of Network as one of the most exciting he has ever sat on, and he looks a real natural over fences. He only managed third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle behind Al Ferof last year, but many believed that his future would be over fences. His fans may not be that keen to back him at odds-on carrying 11-5, but they can back him for the Arkle at current odds of 9/4 with bet365 and Ladbrokes.

Next is the Paul Nicholls-trained Hold Fast at 7/2 with bet365, who landed a huge gamble at Sandown last time out. He did not do an awful lot when trained by Howard Johnson, but it looks as if has had thrived for a change of scenery, as have his ex-stablemates like On His Own and Tidal Bay. The Sandown win was a career best, and it could be significant that Master Minded also won that race for Paul Nicholls before going onto better things. Whilst it is impossible to make comparisons between Hold Fast and one of the best two-mile steeplechasers ever seen, it is interesting that Nicholls is pitching the Wylie family’s gelding in at the deep end instead of sticking to handicap company. He is a 14/1 shot with William Hill to win the Grand Annual at the Festival and best-priced at 25/1 with Sky Bet to beat the likes of Sizing Europe and Big Zeb in the Champion Chase.

The grey Zaynar is 7/1 with bet365 to win, and he is doing much better now with a change of yards to Nick Williams’. He finished seventh in the Prix La Barka over in France last year, and the horses in front of him like Roi Du Val, Thousand Stars and Formosa Joana Has have all gone on to win major races. Zaynar’s novice form reads pretty well, running well behind Walkon and Grands Crus, and then finishing fourth the the classy Tatenen in a handicap when trying to give the winner 7lb at Ascot. A horse behind him that day, Renard, has won since, so Zaynar certainly has a chance of making the frame here. Looking ahead to next month, Zaynar is 16/1 with Boylesports for the Jewson.

French Opera won the race last year, but it is much stronger this time and he has to give weight to everyone. He is priced at 9/1 with William Hill and it is going to be tough for him to win on his seasonal debut. Nevertheless, French Opera could be a horse to follow in April at the big meetings at Ayr, Sandown and Aintree.

At 11/1 with Paddy Power is I’m So Lucky who looks out of his depth here. Passato is 33/1 with Paddy Power, but he is expected to finish ahead of the outsiders Kinkeel and Rockandahardplace who are both at 200/1 with William Hill.

The Game Spirit Chase is due off at 12.10pm on Friday 17 February and is live on Channel 4 and Racing UK.

2012 Game Spirit Chase Odds