Harry Cobden happy for Cyrname to clash with Altior in Melling Chase showdown
Cyrname's demolition of one high-class field has convinced Harry Cobden a showdown with the mighty Altior at Aintree would not be a step too far for the ever-maturing star.
Cobden believes the emphatic Ascot Chase winner is now a more mature horse whose aversion to running left-handed is behind him, putting the seven-year-old in the frame for a potential clash with Altior in the Melling Chase. Bookmakers reacted by cutting Cyrname to a top-priced 4-1 (from 14) and easing Altior to 10-11 (from 8-13).
All Cyrname's best form is on right-handed tracks, but trainer Paul Nicholls has hinted he could go the other way around for the first time in a year in the JLT-sponsored contest on April 5.
Fresh from completing his first century of winners, at Exeter on Sunday, Cobden, who partnered Cyrname to his 17-length victory at Ascot in February, said: "I'd have no fear at all about taking on Altior. You can't be scared of one horse.
"Cyrname demolished that field at Ascot and Altior only beat Politologue by a couple of lengths last time. I know it's a different story and Altior may want a trip now, but I'd be confident Cyrname would run a good race.
Cyrname's race record
Left-handed five runs, one win, one place
Right-handed 11 runs, five wins, three places
"I'll leave it to the trainer and Johnny de la Hey [owner] to decide where we go but it doesn't worry me. He'll go left or right-handed now, he's a much more mature horse than he was and going right-handed isn't vital like it had been in the past."
The Nicky Henderson-trained Altior will be tasked with breaking Big Buck's record of 18 consecutive wins over jumps at Aintree, where he will be stepped up to 2m 4f for the first time.
A possible clash between the pair is all the more intriguing given Cyrname was given an official rating of 178, 3lb superior to the two-time Champion Chase winner, after that devastating display at Ascot.
Cobden said: "He's got plenty of boot, he jumps well and he does stay – he could go to Aintree, Punchestown or Sandown. It'll be interesting to see where he ends up."
With more than £140,000 on offer to the winner the Melling Chase promises to play a key part in the destination of the trainers' title.
Nicholls is more than £400,000 in front but his stable jockey believes the race is still very much alive despite second-placed Henderson's assertion the lead had become unassailable.
"I think it looks far from certain," Cobden said. "Mr Henderson has a great team to send to Aintree and Sandown – the likes of Altior, Buveur D'Air and all the big guns are going to run so we're going to have to do the same to keep in front."
Cobden's personal milestone was one he had felt he would be unlikely to reach following injury earlier in the season.
The 20-year-old said: "It was a great day at Exeter. The 100th win itself took a while to come but that was the target at the start of the season and so I was delighted to get there.
"It was a mark that I wanted to hit at the start of the season but then I broke my neck and then thought I might struggle to get there. But I've had 90-odd winners since then. For the rest of the year staying in one piece would be nice but I suppose the main goal has to be getting the championship for Paul."
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