Third Festival win for mighty Altior

ALTIOR turned what looked an inevitable defeat into a stunning victory when taking the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

With three fences to jump, Altior was going nowhere under Nico de Boinville, but in a matter of a couple of strides he was back in the game and soared past Min to come home seven lengths clear of his rival.

It was Altior’s third Grade One victory at the Cheltenham Festival, having won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2015 and the Arkle Trophy last year.

“This ground is the worst he’s ever had,” said de Boinville. “It’s so dead and tacky –

“Altior and Sprinter Sacre are very different,” he said. “Sprinter always did the best of his work between three out and two out, whereas Altior does it at the end, so you can afford to hold on a bit longer with him.

“That was a great training performance to come back from the scare two days ago when had pus in his foot.”

Nicky Henderson, who has faultlessly guided the gelding to win all of his 13 races over jumps, received a hero’s welcome in the winner’s enclosure.

Henderson, was struggling to hold back the tears, as his majestic little horse was given three cheers of hip-hoorah.

“It’s funny how champions come around in the same breath,” said Henderson. “It’s strange that Altior has come around so soon after Sprinter.

“This horse is very, very good, and I always said he had very big shoes to fill, but each time he wins he gets closer to doing that.

“We will never forget Sprinter, who tugged at heartstrings in a way this horse might never do, but if he wins again he might. Sprinter was such a show-off and had a swank, and he won this race by a distance.”

Henderson, winning the race the fifth time, added: “I always said Sprinter was one of the greatest horses I have ever seen and those scenes here when he won the second time are unforgettable.

“Nico gave him a great ride – in big races he has never let us down. He has a great temperament and he’s a top man.”

Headline

Henderson and De Boinville team-up on Friday with Might Bite in the Gold Cup.

If they pull that off, Henderson will become the first trainer to win the three headline acts in the same season – the Champion Hurdle, which he won on Tuesday with Buveur D’Ar, the Champion Chase and the Gold Cup.

“It’s going to be a tough call,” said Henderson. “Of the three, Might Bite is the most vulnerable but we’ll give it a dam good go.”

Of Altior’s beaten rivals, Willie Mullins was delighted with Min, the second home.

“I am pleased with him, he came with what I thought was a winning run but Altior found another gear when I thought he looked beaten as they came down the hill,” he said.

Mullins, also responsible for Douvan, who fell four fences from home when leading. “He was absolutely cantering, but overjumped and just caught the top of it. But, thankfully, he’s fine.”

It certainly worked out fine for Altior and again for the peerless Henderson, with a victory to savour.