The Nicky Henderson-trained Altior takes another step on the road to the Cheltenham Festival on Saturday in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury over two miles in a five-runner field.
Patricia Pugh’s seven-year-old is unbeaten over hurdles and fences and was impressive when landing the Grade One Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival by seven lengths.
Since being switched to chasing this year, the son of High Chaparral has continued his meteoric rise with three comfortable successes, which included a six-length victory at Sandown in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase in December.
The Irish-bred gelding was last seen winning the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase by 18 lengths at Kempton Park.
Altior will be reunited with Nico de Boinville who has returned to the saddle in recent weeks following a spell on the sidelines, with the jockey evidently delighted to renewing his partnership with the exciting gelding.
De Boinville commented to the Racing Post: “Altior is absolutely flying. We’ll be wary of the ground, as he wouldn’t want it too soft, but it would be more good experience for him if he does run.
“This will be more of a test than he’s had so far. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see Fox Norton’s win at Cheltenham as I was on the operating table, but I’ll have a look back at the race as I gather he was pretty impressive.
“This will be a good test for Altior, but if he’s as good as we all think he is – and we do hold him in high regard – I’d like to see him put up a good show.”
De Boinville’s reference to Fox Norton, trained by Colin Tizzard and owned by Alan and Ann Potts serves to highlight the strength of the task facing Altior on Saturday.
Fox Norton has looked impressive since switching to Tizzard’s yard from Neil Mulholland at the start of the season. The seven-year-old son of Lando was a facile nine-length winner of the Grade Two Shloer Chase at Cheltenham’s The Open meeting in November and looks likely to head for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival.
Other horses entered for the Game Spirit include former Champion Chase winner Dodging Bullets, trained by Paul Nicholls and Kerry Lee’s Gino Trial.
An interesting contender lies in the form of Gary Moore’s Traffic Fluide who improved rapidly during the 2015-16 season, which culminated in an excellent third-placed finish to Un De Sceaux in the 2016 Clarence House Chase. However, the son of Astarabad missed last season through injury. He completes the five-runner field for the two-mile contest.
Altior is around 1/2 for the Arkle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, whilst Fox Norton is a general 6/1 shot for the Champion Chase.
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