FINGER ON THE BUTTONS
IT MIGHT be an unlikely dream but Lady Buttons – the horse who cannot stop improving – is bidding to become the first mare to win the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The last one to be placed in the two-mile burn-up was the great Anaglogs Daughter, who was runner-up to Drumgora in 1981.
But Lady Buttons, trained by Phil Kirby, has her eye on the mighty Altior in the championship contest on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on March 13.
She is the only mare among the 22 entries that were revealed yesterday.
The nine-year-old has won three from three so far this season, taking in a Listed hurdle at Wetherby, a competitive handicap chase at Newbury and a two-and-a-half mile Listed chase at Doncaster on December 29.
Her record over fences stands at four wins from five starts.
Kirby, who is based near Catterick in North Yorkshire, said: “Lady Buttons has come out of Doncaster in good form.
“We were delighted with her performance and this season she has just kept on improving. She has always been a horse we have held in high regard. She had a couple of niggles earlier on in her career, but the last couple of seasons have been excellent and she has progressed with every run.
“We have entered her in the Champion Chase. We are still to make a decision as to where she runs next as there are not a whole load of options at two miles for mares. It was pleasing at Doncaster that she demonstrated she stays further.”
Altior is the 1-2 favourite with Betway on the back of a very easy success in the Grade Two Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park on December 27.
It was the nine-year-old’s 16th consecutive victory over obstacles, consolidating his unbeaten record over fences (11 starts) and previously hurdles (five starts).
If successful, it would be Henderson’s sixth Queen Mother Champion Chase victory, equalling the record for a trainer in the race held by the late Tom Dreaper.
Altior is due to run in next weekend’s Matchbook Clarence House Chase at Ascot where he could clash with crack Irish chaser Un De Sceaux, Saint Calvados, Politologue and Fox Norton in the Grade One event.