Sprinter Sacre a factor in Europe choice

TRAINER Henry de Bromhead admits Sprinter Sacre’s participation at the Punchestown Festival could have a bearing on which race Sizing Europe contests.

The 11-year-old was no match for Nicky Henderson’s incredible stable star in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month, finishing a well-beaten second.

Sprinter Sacre has since bolted up at Aintree and Henderson has suggested his charge could finish off his spectacular season in Punchestown’s Champion Chase on 23 April.

Sizing Europe could avoid a rematch by stepping up in distance for the Punchestown Gold Cup a day later, although conditions would have to be right.

Asked whether Sprinter Sacre’s participation would have an impact on Sizing Europe’s plans, De Bromhead said: “I’m sure it will, but the ground will be a big factor as well.

“If the ground comes up heavy, we’ll probably be forced to run in the two-mile race, as we don’t want a slog in heavy ground over three miles. He’s in great form and we’re hoping to run him in Punchestown, but I don’t know which race we’ll go for yet. I need to speak with Alan and Ann (Potts, owners) and see what the weather does.”

Meanwhile, Kieren Fallon is expected to be back in action for the big meeting at Newmarket tomorrow, despite suffering food poisoning over the weekend.

The six-times champion jockey gave up his six rides at Redcar yesterday, but intends to be back in the saddle for the Nell Gwyn fixture at the Headquarters of British Flat racing.

Fallon’s agent Laura Way said: “Kieren has had a bit of food poisoning and he sounded quite ill when I spoke to him.

“Food poisoning obviously takes it out of you and makes you very drained, so he’s taking the day off and he should be fine for Newmarket on Wednesday.”

In other racing news, trainer Ian McInnes will face a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing after he was charged with running a horse after it had undergone a prohibited procedure.

McInnes is accused of running Commando Scott nine times after a biaxial neurectomy to his right hind plantar digital nerve in July 2008, a procedure that involves severing nervous connection to the lower leg.

The procedure is banned on welfare grounds and BHA will assess whether McInnes ran the horse contrary to the rules, failed to exercise reasonable skill and care in his business and misled officials during the ensuing investigation. The inquiry is scheduled to take place between 7 and 9 May. Trainer Howard Johnson faced similar charges in 2011 and was banned for three years by the BHA.

The disciplinary panel will also consider whether Commando Scott’s owner William Morris misled officials, although his hearing will be at a later date.