Altior is a class act
It’s a case of triumph over adversity as Altior, ridden by Nico de Boinville, takes a late lead to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase with a flourish
Nicky Henderson’s star shines
WHILE Native River exhibited all the hallmarks of a great staying chaser in Friday’s Gold Cup, Altior proved himself the class act of this year’s Festival when turning Wednesday’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on its head, in the space of just half a dozen strides at the second last — transforming almost certain defeat into a dazzling triumph.
Patricia Pugh’s eight-yearold by High Chaparral, who was winning at his third Festival in succession, had not had a great time of it since adding Sandown’s Celebration Chase to his Arkle last April. Found to be making a noise on the gallops a week before the Tingle Creek at Sandown, he had wind surgery which was followed by box rest. However, he made it back for the Betfair Exchange Chase at Newbury, in which he reestablished himself as the young pretender to the two-mile crown.
However, on the Monday before the Champion Chase, he was found to be lame with pus in his frog. Provided he was sound the following day, trainer Nicky Henderson was adamant it would make no difference and he was proved correct. Instead, it was the soft-heavy ground that was nearly his undoing.
The race had gained added spice with last year’s beaten oddson favourite Douvan in the line-up — his first start since sustaining a pelvic injury in the 2017 race. With Ruby Walsh aggravating the broken leg which has kept him out for most of the winter in a fall earlier in the afternoon, Patrick Mullins took the ride. The pair was still going well when falling at the last ditch, however, it was too far out to have predicted what part he might have played had he stood up.
Altior was clearly all at sea on the ground, even stumbling in it coming down the hill and, having jumped the third last, he looked in serious trouble. Nico de Boinville seemed to be getting little response to his questions and in front of him Min, God’s Own, Politologue and Ordinary World were all going better.
One year ago in the Arkle, Altior had appeared to be struggling when Charbel fell at the second last and many considered Kim Bailey’s chaser a little unlucky. However, Altior finished with such a flourish up the hill that nothing would have beaten him and it was similar here.
De Boinville switched him wider for some daylight going to the penultimate fence and, in a few strides, he was going up through the gears reeling in all but Min at the second last — before collaring him at the last.
He then galloped up the hill like nothing else all week, putting an astonishing seven lengths between himself and the runnersup, Min and Paul Townend.
‘HE IS ONE OF A KIND’
ALTHOUGH he is no longer the most successful Festival trainer of all time — that fell to Willie Mullins later in the week — it was Henderson’s 60th Festival winner. He has seen a few good ones and Altior must be up there among the very best of them. One suspects
See You Then, his first Festival winner, and Sprinter Sacre, with his heart problems, are only hanging on to their position above him in Henderson’s affections for sentimental reasons.
“The foot was nothing,” said the trainer afterwards. “It was of no consequence and when he was getting beaten coming round the last bend, I wasn’t about to start saying it was the foot. It’s been a tough year for him, he’s been missing out. He’s just very good — he’s got gears and it was good to watch. When Nico pulled him out, he was electric. It was a great ride, he was very cool on him.”
Admitting to doubts about the final outcome, Henderson added: “For a few seconds I thought,
‘This isn’t going to happen’, but he quickened up pretty well. To find those gears off this pace on that ground, you have to be good.”
Speaking about having found such a replacement for Sprinter Sacre so soon after his retirement, Henderson said: “We’re lucky to have been down this road a few times — it’s funny how champions come around, they help each other in a funny sort of way. This horse is very good. I’ve always said Sprinter has very big shoes to fill but this boy is doing it. We will never forget Sprinter, but for today we say thank you to Altior.”
De Boinville, who first came to prominence as Sprinter Sacre’s work jockey before riding him to win the 2016 Champion Chase, was blown away by Altior.
“He is one of a kind,” he exclaimed. “He finds extra gears after the last fence. It’s incredible. I know everyone loves an Irish banker but how about an English one?
“He’s exceptional — the best of the best — and that was sensational. What a superstar he is, and boy, am I lucky to ride him.
“He and Sprinter are different horses,” he reflected. “Altior seems to have those few extra gears at the end, whereas Sprinter did his winning between three and two out.”