Altior hopes improve as recovery gathers pace
The chances of Altior defending his Betway Champion Chase title tomorrow improved yesterday when Nicky Henderson reported that his star chaser had made good progress overnight in his recovery from a lameness issue.
On Sunday, the trainer reported that Altior was sore and lame and that the 10-year-old faced a race against time to be fit to take part at this year’s Festival.
However his update was more positive yesterday. “We have declared Altior on the grounds he has made good improvement from yesterday,” he said. “He had sensitivity on the splint and resented you pressing it yesterday. But he’s nothing like as reactive today.
“On the grounds of that improvement, we’ve got to give him every chance to run. He’s on the treadmill walking and will do the same tonight. We must give him a chance.”
To get Altior sound on turf is one thing but to be allowed to run he must trot up on a hard surface in front of a panel of British Horseracing Authority vets before tomorrow’s race.
If the jumper, who has won 19 of his 20 starts over obstacles, were to line up and win tomorrow’s race it would his fifth Festival win and a third victory in the Champion Chase would equal the record set by Badsworth Boy in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Nicola Mcgeady, a spokesperson for Ladbrokes, which pushed him further out to 3-1, said: “Since the scare Altior has been friendless and we don’t expect him to gain many supporters between now and the race. There is a still a big worry about his fitness and the race looks quite a puzzle now.”
Seven horses have been declared for the race with Defi Du Seuil likely to start favourite ahead of the Irish challenger Chacun Pour Soi, whom Willie Mullins believes can give him his first success in the race.