Time and weight count against Altior in fascinating Desert Orchid

The less we see of Altior, the more questions need to be asked of him. It is a paradox that makes one of the lesser-spotted among racing's luminaries one of the most often-discussed.

Nicky Henderson is keen to point out that Altior has nothing to prove. In one sense, he is of course correct. A dual Champion Chase winner who has never lost a race over obstacles at around two miles has unquestionably assured their legacy. But that is a slightly different question to the one being asked. In five days' time Altior will be 11 and punters rarely-to-never let horses of such advanced years go without interrogation.

Considering that Altior has run only twice since April 2019, the questions are only more pressing. How good is he now? The only evidence from the last 18 months or so is a defeat to Cyrname and a typically workmanlike victory in the Game Spirit at Newbury.