GET A TINGLE ON.. ALTIOR IS SET TO GO

ALTIOR will head straight for the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park on 8 December after Nicky Henderson (above) yesterday ruled out a return in Sunday’s Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.

Henderson had mooted giving the eightyear-old, a perfect nine out of nine over fences, his comeback in the Grade 2 two-miler — but will now rely on last season’s Arkle Trophy runner-up Brain Power.

“Altior is ready to run — I could run him — but, three weeks before the Tingle Creek, I don’t think he really needs a race,” the Seven Barrows trainer said yesterday.

“There’s a long way ahead of us and he’s fresh and well for the Tingle Creek. He’s in terrific form.”

Altior holds an entry in the three-mile King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, but Henderson is keen to keep the reigning Champion at two miles.

“It’s a very difficult step to take between the Tingle Creek and the King George, because you’re going from two to three,” he added.

“If you saw him working the other day — he was electric quick — you’d be thinking more about the King’s Stand than the King George!”