CHELTENHAM NEWS

Henderson optimistic regarding Altior’s Champion Chase hopes

Nicky Henderson remains optimistic that Altior can be a serious contender to win his third Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Patricia Pugh-owned 11-year-old is a two-time winner of the Grade 1 race having claimed back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019, but he was denied a chance to make it a hat-trick of successes last year after he suffered a setback during his preparations.

Indeed, Altior did not make his return to action until last month’s Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton when he was beaten for just the second time in 17 starts over fences, producing a lethargic display as he finished behind Dan Skelton’s Nube Negra.

However, Henderson has been pleased with how his stable star has responded following that setback and he believes he is primed for a good run in the Champion Chase, although his participation in that race is yet to be guaranteed, as he also holds a Festival entry in the longer Ryanair Chase.

“There’s lots of conjecture about whether he’ll run in the Champion Chase or the Ryanair, but unless something categorically comes up and says this horse wants two and a half (miles), I’m expecting to run him in the Champion Chase,” Henderson told Sky Sports Racing.

“Nico (de Boinville) is very keen to go two and a half, but I do think – and maybe I’m in dreamland – that there is something about him just at the moment that is different to how he was before Christmas.”

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