Brilliant Barney
HAVING attracted more attention recently for his absence from the track than on it, Altior is expected to return to action at Newbury next Saturday.
Following his defeat at Ascot in November after racking up 19 successive victories, the superstar has missed his two intended targets, the King George VI Chase and the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton.
Yesterday the gelding, partnered by regular rider Nico De Boinville, jumped five fences on Henderson’s schooling grounds outside Lambourn.
Henderson no doubt will be hoping the gelding remains fit and out of controversy following an investigation by the BHA over his recent non-appearance.
Altior will be a warm order to win next Saturday’s Betfair Exchange Chase for the third time before attempting to
■ make it a hat-trick in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.
Meanwhile, James Ferguson, the son of John, the former adviser to Sheikh Mohammed and also a trainer, opened his account as a trainer at Southwell yesterday.
Ferguson, who has 20 horses in his care at Newmarket, celebrated after Luke Morris partnered Arabian King to victory in the Betyourway at Betway Handicap.
“I have a dual licence so if I have a horse I think may be suited to jumps I’ll definitely show my hand,” said Ferguson.
“Credit goes to my whole team. This really means a lot.”
Paul Nicholls dominated at Wincanton, his local track. The champion trainer made it a treble with Cill Anna, Worthy Farm and Calva D’Auge, all ridden by Harry Cobden.
Nicholls also enjoyed success as the part owner of the Rosie Loxton-trained Virak, the winner of the hunter chase in the hands of Natalie Parker.
BARNEY ROY led home four Godolphin runners in the Group Two Al Rashidiya at Meydan yesterday.
The six-year-old was keen early on in his first race since Royal Ascot in June.
But his class prevailed as he and William Buick asserted to pull away from last year’s winner Dream Castle.
Mountain Hunter was third and Loxley fourth to complete the Godolphin rout.
A Group One winner as a threeyear-old, he returned to the track last season after an unsuccessful stint at stud in 2018.
Appleby said: “He was fresh in the paddock and for the first half of the race, but once he got into it, I was always hopeful his class would prevail.
“We will work backwards from the Jebel Hatta (Super Saturday, March 7).”