King George comes too soon for Altior

Nicky Henderson said it is ‘ highly unlikely’ that saturday’s Tingle creek chase winner Altior will step up a mile in distance to run in the king George Vi chase at kempton on Boxing day.

But the Lambourn trainer admitted the option of testing Altior over three miles was ‘very tempting’ and conceded the brilliant chaser might have taken up the king George entry had there been a longer gap between the christmas steeplechasing highlight and saturday’s race.

Henderson already has last year’s winner Might Bite for the king George and Altior looks set for the desert orchid chase 24 hours later.

The trainer, who also announced the retirement of popular My Tent or yours, three times runner-up in the champion Hurdle, said: ‘i’d love to have a go. if it was in a month’s time i don’t think there would be any doubt we would. But i cannot believe that however comfortably he won (at sandown) that he is going to come out of that in 17 days not a little bruised. i don’t say we’ve ruled it out, but we virtually did.’

speaking on racing Uk, Henderson revealed that Altior had emerged from the Tingle creek a little sore after losing a shoe.

saturday’s four-length win from Un de sceaux extended Altior’s winning sequence to 15. He has never been beaten over either hurdles or fences.

Meanwhile, the BHA are continuing to investigate what was behind four equine fatalities at Musselburgh last Monday, but today’s meeting will go ahead, albeit with just 39 horses due to contest the seven races.