Newbury’s card on Saturday looks set to be a cracker with a number of superb races including the ultra-competitive Betfair Hurdle, the intriguing Betfair Denman Chase and the interesting Game Spirit Chase in which Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Altior faces his toughest assignment over fences to date as he takes on Fox Norton and three other rivals in the extended two mile contest at 3:00 live on ITV 4. Here’s the verdict on the contest:
Altior to reach summit?
Nicky Henderson’s Altior has swept all before him over hurdles and fences as victory in the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices Chase at Kempton last time extended his unbeaten sequence over timber to eight wins. A stellar hurdling career culminated with a decisive victory over favourite Min in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year and looking every inch a chaser in the making during his hurdling career, the son of High Chaparral has showed that notion to be true with some exuberant leaps in his three successive over the larger obstacles so far this term, which included a facile six-length victory in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park in December.
However, at Newbury on Saturday, Patricia Pugh’s gelding faces his sternest challenge to date in the shape of Fox Norton and he will need to be at his best for this contest. Reunited with Nico de Boinville and with the ground hopefully not going to be too soft, Altior should take the beating. What could prove important however is the Irish-bred gelding’s jump which has been exuberant so far.
He will have been well schooled before this assignment but Henderson and his team will be hoping for no mishaps by their stable star. Altior is a strong traveller and has a massive engine. His defeat of Min has been franked and despite stepping up to a graded contest off equal weights against experienced two-mile horses, he looks to have an outstanding chance of extending his unbeaten winning sequence.
A win in this race will only cement his claims for the Arkle for which he is a general 1/2 shot.
Fox to prove fantastic?
Colin Tizzard has had a stellar season and Fox Norton, bought by Alan & Ann Potts from Neil Mulholland’s stable will provide a stern test of Altior’s Arkle credentials.
The seven-year-old son of Lando has progressed nicely over fences and was very impressive when routing a decent field by nine-lengths in the Grade Two Shloer Chase at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting in November. That was an impressive performance on his first start for team Tizzard with the imposing grey jumping well and travelling into the race very kindly under Aidan Coleman.
He won’t be inconvenienced by softer conditions underfoot and like Altior travels well throughout his races. A slight setback has prevented Fox Norton from running since November and he might just need this race in preparation for a tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival in March.
Traffic leads list of problems
This is a strong five-runner field with Paul Nicholls’ Dodging Bullets, winner of the 2015 Queen Mother Champion Chase and a dual runner-up in this contest looking to have seemingly plenty to find on the two market principals as sadly he does not seem the same horse at the age of nine.
Kerry Lee’s Gino Trail, due to be ridden by Paul Townend for Kerry Lee a lightly-raced contender rated 22lbs lower than Fox Norton. He is a bold jumper and should ensure this is a test of stamina for the stable who won this race last year with Top Gamble. His first preference however is the 2:40 at Warwick.
The most interesting other contender in the race however must be Traffic Fluide, not seen for 365 days but who looked a progressive novice chaser for Gary Moore and his team. The son of Astarabad missed last season through injury but had previously finished an excellent third to Un De Sceaux in the 2016 Clarence House Chase. He’ll strip fitter for this reappearance and it will be interesting to how he develops throughout the remainder of the season.
Verdict – Altior to make rivals pay
Altior is improving at a rate of knots and should have the measure of Fox Norton. His massive engine and strong travelling style should stand him in good stead and as long as he jumps safely he should not be beaten.
Selection – Altior 3pts Win 4/7 (Scale 1-5 points).
