Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S AL TO PLAY FOR
DESPITE an injury scare on Monday, Altior is a tentative choice in today’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.
It’s a strange and far from satisfactory situation ahead of the two-mile championship race to have injury concerns surrounding the two market leaders.
Altior, unbeaten in seven starts over fences and winner of the Arkle here last year, was confirmed ‘sound’ yesterday morning by his trainer Nicky Henderson, who had issued a worrying bulletin on Monday when the eight-year-old was fount to be slightly lame.
But his “all systems go” assertion yesterday gave ante-post favourite Altior the go-ahead to run. And he comes into the race on the back of a far from ideal preparation, just one run, having undergone a wind operation last autumn.
On his return in the Betfair Exchange Chase (Game Spirit) at Newbury, Altior outpointed Profitologue with the minimum of fuss, a performance which proved that he’s in good fettle, although the recent scare is clearly a worry.
Last season, Altior won the Arkle in great style here and went on to beat last year’s two mile champion Special Tiara in the Celebration Chase at Sandown.
If a wind operation and an injury scare cast doubts over Altior, the mount of Nico de Boinville, a year-long absence, since he flopped in this race last year, is an even bigger concern for Douvan.
Unbeaten in nine chase starts before finishing seventh to Special Tiara last year, when sent off 2/9 favourite, Douvan sustained a stress fracture of his pelvis.
Willie Mullins has reported that Douvan worked brilliantly in November. But he was then forced to miss the Tingle Creek at Sandown due to intermittent lameness, which threatened to rule him out for the rest of the season.
But recent reports from Closutton are positive. And Douvan, Ruby Walsh’s choice, carries plenty of stable confidence ahead of his bid for redemption in the Queen Mother.
Mullins also runs Min, no match for Altior in the Supreme Novices here two years ago and successful once at Grade 1 over the bigger obstacles.
Disqualified after a below par effort and narrow win over Simply Ned at Leopardstown over Christmas, he impressed when slamming Nicky Richards’ charge in a Grade 2 on the same track last month.
Improvement is needed, but likely from Paul Townend’s mount. And he must enter calculations.
At the age of 11, Henry de Bromhead’s Special Tiara is back to defend his crown, earned at the expense of Fox Norton last year, when Douvan flopped.
He was firmly put in his place by a brilliant Altior in the Celebration last spring and has failed to sparkle this season.
He fell behind Profitologue at Kempton over Christmas and last time, was well-beaten by Min at Leopardstown.
Sure to lead the field a merry dance, it’s difficult to see him winning again.
De Bromhead also runs Ordinary World, third to Altior in the Arkle 12 months ago but fourth 30 lengths off Min at Leopardstown last time.
Like Min, the Paul Nicholls-trained Profitologue is only seven and open to plenty of improvement. But, on Newbury form, there is no reason why he should turn the tables with Altior.
Altior outpointed Profitologue with minimum of fuss, which proved that he’s in good fettle