Nicky Henderson: Altior back on song and primed for record-breaking bid

Altior has recovered from Cheltenham and is ready to be aimed at a record-breaking 19th straight win over jumps at Sandown on Saturday, when a clash with the highest-rated horse in Britain and Ireland is still on after Cyrname was also among the 12 entries for the bet365 Celebration Chase.

Altior's trainer Nicky Henderson said he would unleash his two-time Queen Mother Champion Chase winner as long as the ground at Sandown is not too quick after the Easter heatwave.

With the Esher course working hard on the watering to combat a testing five days of hot weather and two weeks without rain, that heightens the likelihood of a showdown between the two highest-rated chasers in Britain and Ireland.

Altior missed a date at Aintree this month, but Henderson now feels he has his champion back to his best as he looks for a third straight win in Sandown's Grade 1.

He said: "He didn't quite bounce back from Cheltenham, a bit like last year. Nico [de Boinville] said he felt a little bit flat when he sat on him before Aintree. But certainly in the last ten days he has shown he is recovered and ready."

Altior equalled the record for most consecutive wins over jumps – joining legendary staying hurdler Big Buck's – when registering his 18th straight success in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Bookmakers expect him to break the record with 2-5 the longest price about Altior proving the BHA handicapper wrong for rating Cyrname 3lb better than him, with Paul Nicholls' seven-year-old as big as 7-4 with the layers.

Rupert Adams, of Hills, summed up the feeling: "What an end to the season this could be, with Altior set to enter the history books as one of the absolute greats."

As to the pressure of standing on the threshold of the record, Henderson said: "They have got to get beaten some time so we will see. Cyrname is a very good horse, obviously, but Altior has shown he is back in very good form in the last ten days."

As well as the Celebration Chase, over two miles, Cyrname, who earned the higher rating for his romp in the Ascot Chase for Nicholls, has been entered in the longer Oaksey Chase over 2m6½f on the same card.

Cyrname is 4-7 with Coral for the Oaksey in which Henderson provides the next in the betting with Janika at 5-2.

Sandown was finishing the latest cycle of putting down 10mm of water around the whole track, which takes 48 hours, and has topped 100mm (four inches) in total alongside just 12mm of rainfall since Cheltenham in mid-March.

Andrew Cooper, clerk of the course, said: "We have taken GoingStick readings on Tuesday afternoon and it is 8.2 on the chase course and 8.3 on the hurdle.

"After walking the track I have called it good, good to firm in places, but could have left it as good.

"We will continue watering even though there is rain forecast, as while some forecast a wet day on Thursday others suggest just showers.

"What will be helpful is the cooler temperatures forecast as the watering will have a longer effect."

San Benedeto and God's Own, second and third to Altior in the race last year (both 25-1 with Coral), and Sceau Royal, the 5-1 third favourite, are also among the Celebration Chase entries.

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