HENDERSON BHA FURY

ANGRY Nicky Henderson has spoken out on the Altior-gate row dominating racing last week, saying: “I couldn’t have done more.”

Henderson came under fire for keeping punters in the dark after Altior, having drifted from 1-4 favourite to 5-2 for yesterday’s Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton Park, was announced a non-runner on Tuesday morning.

The British Horseracing Authority fired across the Seven Barrow’s trainer’s bows, calling on Henderson to “clarify plans publicly” – and sent a vet to examine Altior on Thursday, before the two-time Queen Mother Champion Chase hero was scratched from the Grade 2 test.

But Henderson claimed he contacted the BHA first at 8.45am on Tuesday to inform them of “a problem” with Altior – and of his unease with the betting on the 10-year-old – before accusing the authority of not telling the whole story.

“You might ask the BHA who rang the Integrity Department at 8.45am on Tuesday to tell them I had a problem with Altior, and there was something fishy going on – a rumour,” fumed Henderson.

“I said, ‘I want you to look into it. There’s a leakage going on – let’s find it’. But they haven’t mentioned it. I’m furious –

I’ve been furious with the whole thing, because who’s getting shot the whole time through?”

Henderson (above), who broke the news to punters at 11.42am – after telling Altior’s owner Patricia Pugh – added: “I couldn’t be public until I’ve talked to the owner, and I think that’s only fair – you have to talk to the owner first.”

In Altior’s absence, stablemate Top Notch was sent off the 11-10 favourite for the feature chase.

But victory went to Frodon, returning jockey Bryony Frost to the big-race limelight to earn a 6-1 quote to repeat his win in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March.