8e^\cj cffbj _\Xm\e j\ek

NICKY HENDERSON will make a decision about his crack two-mile chaser Altior running in Thursday’s Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton after the gelding has galloped tomorrow.

The trainer gave a positive bulletin on his stable star after saddling Angels Breath to win at Ascot yesterday.

“All is good with Altior,” said Henderson about the gelding who has yet to have his colours lowered in 15 races over jumps. “I’ve put him in the Kempton race and will make a decision after he’s had a spin.

“As you all know, we had thought about the King George VI for him but that will now have to wait until next year.

“This season’s target will be the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.”

Altior was last seen in action when outgunning Un De Sceaux in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown earlier in the month.

Henderson not only has an abundance of stars for the headline races but also countless smart youngsters for the future.

Angels Breath, an impressive winner of his only start in an Irish point-topoint, showed he is clearly destined for top honours after taking the Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle in the hands of Nico de Boinville.

“He looked very good in his point,” said Henderson. “I thought there would be some improvement to come today and he’s done it very well.”

Reflecting on the stream of novice talent in his Lambourn stables, Henderson said: “It’s a nice problem to have and they will all have to sort themselves out. This horse is a two

Talent

miler, I’m sure. Rathhill (an impressive winner at Newbury on Wednesday) could go for the Tolworth and that might come quick enough for this horse. We’ll have to sort it out later on.”

Kim Bailey also has an exciting performer in Vinndication, the winner of the Noel Novices’ Chase.

Measuring the obstacles like a seasoned campaigner on only his second start over fences for jockey David Bass, he held off the late thrust of Jerrysback.

“We’ll try to keep him unbeaten – it’s not often a horse wins his first six races,” said Bailey.

“The best thing that could happen was for him to make a mistake at the first as he didn’t touch a twig after.

“He doesn’t impress anyone at home, but David has always thought he is the best horse he has ever sat on.”

Bailey is toying with the idea of running the five-year-old in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but the impression given is that the Gold Cup in two years’ time is what matters most for his trainer.

“At the end of it, the long-term future of this horse is important to me, as I think he can go a long way,” said Bailey, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Master Oats in 1995.

Strong winds at Ascot resulted in two flights of the new padded hurdles in the home straight being omitted.

Chris Stickels, Ascot’s clerk of the course, said: “The wind was blowing some of the panels too upright, leaving the flight unlevel, some higher than others. Some were not the right height or angle to jump safely.”