ALTIOR FACES ‘UPHILL BATTLE’

NICKY HENDERSON revealed “it will be an uphill battle” if Altior lines up in Wednesday’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after he was found to be lame.

Henderson, responsible for training Altior to win the last two runnings of the Champion Chase, said: “Unfortunately, Altior was lame this morning, due to an old splint (bone enlargement on the lower foreleg) that has been dormant.

“It’s never bothered him before and typically it rears its ugly head now.

“We are working away and there’s lots we can do, we have two days, but it will be an uphill battle.”

The two-mile Champion Chase had become the hottest ticket at the meeting with Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi hoping to take Altior’s crown.

Henderson added: “We have to keep going. We’re working away and we’ll either get lucky or we won’t.” Not for the first time has Altior had Henderson pulling his hair out.

On the Monday before he won his first Champion Chase two years ago, he was reported lame on his near fore-leg.

Altior had been backed into clear favouritism in recent days but is now 5-2 with Coral. Defi Du Seuil heads the market at 5-4 with Chacun Pour Soi at 11-8.

Henderson, responsible for tomorrow’s Champion Hurdle favourite Epatante, also runs Pentland Hills, Fusil Raffles and Call Me Lord but has taken outVerdana Blue.

Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle, considered for the race, will both head for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day.