King George firmly on agenda as Altior surpasses Big Buck's in Celebration Chase

It was perhaps fitting the mighty Altior eclipsed the 18 victories Big Buck's achieved to set a world record for consecutive successes in the style of the star staying hurdler, pulling out all the stops over a trip connections now deem too short for the sport's biggest name.

Getting down and dirty and scrapping like a streetfighter has become the hallmark of Altior over two miles, although Nicky Henderson delivered an early Christmas present when pointing the handsome son of 2002 Derby hero High Chaparral firmly at the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton on December 26.

Nico de Boinville earned his riding fee and more during a bold front-running two miles that ended with the 1-6 favourite powering clear from Sceau Royal and recording a gutsy and wholehearted two-and-a-half length verdict.

It was one that came after reminders from De Boinville – a method of victory synonymous with Big Buck's, who would often hit a flat spot on his way to his 18.

Altior and Nico de Boinville are led into the winners' enclosure after the Celebration ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

With 19 on his CV, Altior stands apart, but the suspicion stepping up in trip will allow him to flourish further may petrify trainers of three-mile chasers.

"He's very good at telling you things and he told us one thing today and that was, 'go further', so that's what we'll do," said Henderson after his stable star had been welcomed into the winner's enclosure with a chorus of three cheers.

Three miles is now firmly on the agenda and Altior is as short as 5-2 for the Kempton showpiece.

"There's not much point in doing it to go to the Ryanair, so you've got to go to the King George," added Henderson, whose darling was winning the bet365-backed Celebration Chase for the third time.

"How we set it up I'm not quite sure, but we've got a long summer to think about it.

"As Nico said, he had to keep the revs up the whole way and he was going a good rattle, but his jumping keeps him going like that.

"He keeps galloping and just isn't as quick as he was and I think that's been coming over the last year. That's fine and now's the time to do what you've all been telling me to do for two years!"

Owned by Patricia Pugh, the four-time Cheltenham Festival winner has achieved plenty, but his place in racing folklore may be determined by the new adventure.

Altior and Nico de Boinville come clear to win the Celebration ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He's some jumper and a great athlete," Henderson continued on the day he passed the title of champion trainer to Paul Nicholls.

"He is a champion, of course he is when he's done what he's done, but let's try to make him do something else extraordinary."

Asked if he could be as effective over further, the Lambourn icon, in confident tone, replied: "Yes, because he'll switch off. That's going to be the beauty of it. He's no tearaway and will just be as easy to drop in."

If there was one negative it was Altior's tendency to jump left, as he had done – albeit more strikingly – in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January.

That, though, might be another reason to step out of the two-mile division he has towered over since 2016.

"He did jump slightly left," said De Boinville. "We were a bit out of our comfort zone and possibly that's why he's doing that. He didn't travel as sweetly as I would have liked, hence why we'll step up in trip next season.

"He looks like he wants that trip and I'd love to be taking on the likes of Cyrname. I think he's always holding on to a bit and that's why I try to keep him in the game and keep him interested."

With Altior around there will always be interest, although there was an emotional twist as the yard and groom Robin Land had to endure the heartbreak of losing Josses Hill in the preceding Oaksey Chase.

"It's been a tough day as Robin, who looks after Altior, also looks after Josses Hill," reflected an emotional Henderson. "You know what this game is like; it will tame lions."

An apt statement to make, perhaps, as in Altior, we saw a horse with the heart of one.

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