AWESOME ALTIOR
Henderson says his veteran campaigner is still so sharp
NICKY HENDERSON believes Altior can show he retains all of his awesome ability when he attempts to pocket Saturday’s Betfair Tingle Creek Chase for the second time at Sandown.
“He doesn’t show any signs of old age – I’m the one that’s getting old, he’s the one that is young at heart,” said Henderson ( right). “We still haven’t got a horse here that can go over five fences with him.”
Henderson is also delighted the public can attend for the first time today since racing went into lockdown in March.
“Altior likes a crowd,” he added. “He enjoys atmospheres and he’s a horse who thinks he’s quite smart, so if there are admirers there it will be great.”
Last season certainly did not go Altior’s way after his winning sequence of 19 races ended at Ascot when out- pointed ted by Cyrname in November.
Altior bounced back k to win at Newbury but an inflamed splint bone denied him an attempt at a third Champion Chase win at the e Cheltenham Festival.
Henderson was also upbeat b t about his Cheltenham Gold Cup runner- up Santini, second behind Al Boum Photo last season, who returns at Aintree on Saturday. He said: “We put cheekpieces on him and it really sharpens him up.”
❒ THE Cheltenham Gold Cup, one of ju jump racing’s most i iconic races, will need a new sponsor next y year as Magners have ended their contract.
❒ HOLLIE DOYLE, named the 2020 S Sunday d Times Sportswoman of the Year last week, has been shortlisted along with five others for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year.