Henderson: Altior ready to make his comeback

TRAINER Nicky Henderson will not be put off bringing back Altior at Newbury on Saturday despite the fact he could be at his most vulnerable up against two race-fit classy rivals. Both Paul Nicholls-trained Tingle Creek Chase winner Politologue and Colin Tizzard’s dual grade one scorer Fox Norton are potential opponents in the Grade Two Betfair-sponsored Game Spirit Chase. Altior, unbeaten in 11 races over fences or hurdles, has not run this season after a hobday breathing operation. But Henderson (below) says the brilliant winner of last season’s Arkle Trophy Chase is working with all his old verve. ‘He is coming into a race against fit horses, that is the danger, but in the interests of getting him to Cheltenham (for the Queen Mother Champion Chase) a race is the best thing for him,’ he said. ‘If he gets beaten, he gets beaten. It’s going to happen one day. I hope he doesn’t and I am not being down on him. ‘His work is fantastic, his wind is fantastic and his jumping is fantastic. He is in excellent shape. ‘The only danger is because he is so talented, the work is too easy for him. I’d also like to get another school into him. ‘He had one last week and he was fantastic but he was nearly too fantastic. I want to do it again to take that freshness out of him. He was too eager.’ Betfair make Altior 8-13 favourite to make a winning comeback with Politologue 11-4 and Fox Norton 3-1.