Altior Champion Chase scare

ALTIOR, hot favourite for a third successive victory at tomorrow’s Cheltenham Festival in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, is fighting to be fit for the race.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of the gelding who won last year’s Arkle Chase at the Festival and Supreme Hurdle the year before that, said: “He was lame this morning in his near-fore leg and we have located some pus in his foot. He was still able to exercise in the water treadmill. Our vet and farrier are working very hard and are hopeful he’ll be able to canter tomorrow and therefore confident he will be clear to race on Wednesday.”

Henderson rates the eight-year-old highly and has been looking forward to taking on Douvan in tomorrow’s prestigious two-miler, which he has won twice with Sprinter Sacre, a horse he feels Altior is capable of emulating.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Douvan, has had a change of heart. He was expected to run Douvan in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase but after taking to his jockey Ruby Walsh, has opted for tomorrow’s race.