The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Classy Altior looks solid as fab four go into battle at Sandown
It is difficult to look beyond Altior in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.
While he was denied the chance to run in this race last year due to a setback, everything has gone to plan for Nicky Henderson’s charge this time around.
That should spell bad news for his rivals because, even though the time to catch him might be first time out, he was at his best in the Game Spirit last year after an even longer lay-off.
That day he dismissed the top-class Politologue as if he were a mere handicapper, and the only hope his rivals may have is that he briefly looked in trouble in the Champion Chase.
Turning into the straight, Nico De Boinville was sending out distress signals – but after the turbo kicked in, he won by seven lengths.
The last time we saw him was over this course and distance in April, when his strongest furlong was the last.
That has led some to raise the possibility of a King George bid – but while he is mopping up Grade Ones over this trip, connections will be happy.
Another short-priced runner who looks impossible to oppose is Lalor in the randoxhealth.com Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.
A Grade One winner over hurdles, all his best form had previously been in the spring, but he smashed that theory when making a sparkling winning chasing debut at Cheltenham.
This race was not originally on the agenda, but for a small yard it is hard to pass up a Grade One which looks his for the taking.