ALTIOR SCARE FOR HENDERSON

TRAiNeR Nicky Henderson has insisted he remains confident Altior will run in tomorrow’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase despite being lame yesterday.

The odds- on favourite was being treated after pus was detected in the hoof of his nearforeleg. Henderson said: ‘Our vet and farrier are working very hard and are more than hopeful that he will be able to canter tomorrow and be clear to race.’

Altior is due to clash with Douvan after trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci decided to run the 2016 Arkle Novices’ Chase winner in the two-mile race rather than the longer Ryanair Chase on Thursday, a move they had strongly hinted at on Sunday.

Ruby Walsh will ride Douvan — who has not raced since disappointing in last year’s race when sustaining a pelvic injury — rather than stablemate Min.

Henderson, chasing a seventh Champion Hurdle success today with a four-strong team headed by favourite Buveur D’Air, has said We Have A Dream, a leading hope for Friday’s Triumph Hurdle, is a doubtful starter.

That is a further blow to owners Simon Munir and isaac Souede. They have already had Sceaux Royal and Top Notch scratched, while their biggest earner Bristol De Mai has long been ruled out, only for conditions to come perfect for him in the Gold Cup.