Relief for Altior camp as star chaser sets up bid for third Champion Chase

Altior had not exactly faced a ten count when floored by Cyrname at Ascot, but the Lambourn heavyweight came out fighting to deliver a knockout blow to his Game Spirit rivals and tee up a bid for an incredible fifth straight success at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

His only option there is the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, for which he is a best-priced 5-2 with BetVictor, though several firms trimmed him to 2-1 joint-favourite with the emerging Defi Du Seuil.

The bookmaker reaction came after Altior, who had won 19 races in a row until he was beaten by Cyrname in November's 1965 Chase at Ascot, stirred his supporters with a slick and game success from old rival Sceau Royal.

Watch Altior's Game Spirit success

In boxing terms, the championship rounds are late in the piece when the going is tough and the stakes at their highest, but that is exactly when Altior excels and he did just that after the final fence under regular rider Nico de Boinville, who thought his pride and joy's mojo was right back where it should be.

The jockey conveyed those thoughts to Nicky Henderson, who said: "Nico said what he really liked was when he said to put it to bed the gears were there and worked very well.

"That was great and there is improvement to come. Nico said he will come on a lot for it and, as much as anything, it will have done his confidence the world of good."

The five-time champion trainer regrets running his stable star in the autumn and added: "That was not nice at Ascot and it took a lot of getting over. Today will have done him the world of good, gaining in confidence with his jumping and it was just a matter of when he [De Boinville] pressed the button.

Altior delighted winning connectionsCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We know what we've got to do between now and Cheltenham. He takes plenty of work and has had a nice race there."

Altior's CV contains a Supreme, Arkle and brace of Champion Chases - not to mention the 2017 and 2018 Game Spirits - but training a horse who belongs to the public as much as owner Patricia Pugh never gets easier for Henderson, who is in his 43rd year with a licence.

"There's no doubt we were under pressure today," he continued, letting a huge sigh of relief creep out.

"I was fairly confident, but you've got to face things when they go wrong - that's what racing is all about. You're the man who's got to stand up and take a count and it's nice it's over and he's done it well, and he goes to Cheltenham to retain his crown.

"He hasn't been anywhere. Ascot was just a mistake all round, but he's had a lovely time back on his ground. I'm not going to say he was a good horse because he is a good horse and always has been."

Art guru Pugh tends to leave the talking to Henderson when it comes to her ten-year-old, but shared his sentiments, saying: "I said he's back and someone said he'd never been away, so that's one way of looking at it, but we're just really happy. He's enjoyed it and just needed a run to get his confidence."

De Boinville is another crucial cog of the Altior operation, along with devoted groom Robin Land, and while the man in the saddle might not wear his heart so visibly as Henderson, there was no hiding his delight.

"I think we've still plenty to work on, but that was a massive confidence booster and he showed a sparkle of his old brilliance," De Boinville said. "That surge at the end is his trademark and he's devastating from the last to the line, and he showed what he can do."

If he can show it again at Cheltenham a place among jumping's immortals surely awaits and his Champion Chase opponents will have a serious fight on their hands.

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