Trainer Tom George is eyeing a showdown with Sprinter Sacre for Sir Valentino in next month’s Betfair Tingle Creek Chase.
Sir Valentino was last seen winning the Grade Two 188Bet Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on November 1 and has been put up 4lb for beating Garde Le Victoire at the Devon venue.
The seven-year-old has been busy throughout the summer, with a couple of outings at Market Rasen plus one at Worcester, but attentions have now turned to bigger and better things.
With an increase in weight, George feels that handicaps may now be a thing of the past and it looks as though a shot at the Sandown showpiece might be on the cards.
“I suppose we’ll have to think about the Tingle Creek,” said the Down Farm handler. “It seems a long shot to me, but I suppose someone has to take on Sprinter Sacre.
“He’s on 151 so handicaps are out of the equation now. He’s come out of the race in good form and is back cantering, that win was a big bonus for us.”
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