Who wants to take on Altior and Cyrname? Not many as opposition melts away

The opposition to Altior and Cyrname in Saturday's hotly anticipated Christy 1965 Chase appeared to melt away further on Thursday with Keeper Hill joining Top Notch as an unlikely runner.

The Dan Skelton-trained Solomon Grey is the only other possible Ascot rival to the two highest-rated British horses in training.

Keeper Hill, trained by Warren Greatrex, is also entered for the Racing Only Bettor Betfair Podcast Graduation Chase at Haydock and, with only £8,500 difference in winning prize-money, connections have all but opted for that race.

Over half a furlong further it is certainly the more winnable race, with the highest-rated horse in the field being Sue Smith's 155-rated Midnight Shadow.

"I've got to speak to the owner but I'm 95 per cent sure he'll go to Haydock," said Greatrex. "A lot of it was because he hasn't run over fences for a while and we wanted to find a small field. You know with Altior and Cyrname you'll get that, but to be honest he's probably a little up against it!

"Haydock's probably slightly easier and there won't be many runners in the graduation chase, so he would have a chance in that if he reproduces his old form, and he's in terrific form. A flat track at Haydock with a small field will be right up his street."

Greatrex also provided an update on stable star La Bague Au Roi, who flopped when pulled up on her seasonal debut in the Charlie Hall Chase. He said it remains the plan to go to Kempton on Boxing Day, where she beat Topofthegame and Santini in last year's Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase.

La Bague Au Roi heads Topofthegame in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase last DecemberCredit: Edward Whitaker

He added: "La Bague Au Roi is good and it's all systems go – we're heading towards the King George. We're just putting a line through Wetherby. The ground was a little bit against her and she came into season shortly after. It's probably more the fact she was in season than the ground, but maybe it's a combination of both.

"She's in great form now and on last season's form she deserves to take her chance. That's where we plan to go."

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