Sprinter Sacre will join Denman in parading at Newbury
Sprinter Sacre will join Denman in parading at Newbury as he continues his rehabilitation from a heart condition.
Last Updated: 05/02/14 6:37pm
Last year's Queen Mother Champion Chase hero suffered his first defeat in 11 starts over fences when sensationally pulled up in December's Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton, where it quickly emerged he was suffering from an irregular heartbeat.
The problem quickly righted itself and subsequent gallop tests at home have pleased both trainer Nicky Henderson and Celia Marr, a specialist in equine internal medicine and cardiology.
The brilliant eight-year-old will parade in the paddock at Newbury on Saturday and will reportedly be fitted with a heart monitor as he does so.
Dual Hennessy Gold Cup winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman will also be parading.
Richard Osgood, clerk of the course at Newbury, said: "Nicky asked us if we would mind Sprinter Sacre having a walk around the parade ring before racing and we were only too happy to help.
"We always try to assist trainers as much as we can and everyone in racing just wishes that Sprinter Sacre makes a speedy and full recovery.
"Denman will also be parading and it's going to be a wonderful opportunity for racegoers to see two of the finest racehorses of the modern era."
Nicky Henderson added: "We're very grateful to Newbury for allowing us to bring Sprinter Sacre on Saturday.
"The whole purpose of the exercise is to give him a racecourse outing which doesn't bring back bad memories of what happened at Kempton.
"He'll be wearing his heart monitor, which he wears constantly anyway, and he will parade around the paddock with Denman. They'll make a nice double act!
"Hopefully he'll come back with a bit of a spring in his step."