Sprinter Sacre will work and school before racing at Newbury on Monday as he closes in on a return to action at Ascot next month.

The seven-times Grade One winner has not been seen since suffering a heart problem when pulling up in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton last Christmas, but trainer Nicky Henderson is upbeat about his progress.

Racegoers will get the chance to see him in the flesh at Newbury next week and assuming he suffers no ill effects, he is set to make his eagerly-awaited return in Ascot's Clarence House Chase on January 17.

Henderson said: "All being well he'll be at Newbury on Monday. I haven't worked out exactly what we're going to do yet. I'll have a word with Barry (Geraghty) and Richard Osgood (clerk of the course) and then make a plan.

"He won't be galloping round for two miles, but he'll have a spin out and jump a few fences and it just fits in nicely with the race at Ascot.

"The plan is to go to Ascot, if everything goes well in the meantime, and timing-wise taking him to Newbury is perfect.

"Hopefully he'll start work at around 11.45am and should be in the parade ring to have a walk around at around 11.30am."