Cheltenham Festival
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Altior
Altior
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Shame not even a runner from Mullins or the other Irish trainers with charges like Min, Footpad, Un De Sceaux, Simply Ned and Gods Own - a clear sign the Dublin Festival has been given top priority. And as expected no Waiting Patiently either despite similar ground to Kempton; prize money £150k.
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I wonder which tipsters will nap him on saturday; 12 did when Laurina beat her only challenger last saturday.
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Get it back to being a handicap, used to be a great race this.
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Spoke to a few stable lads about altior.
Even ruby takes a sharp intake of breath before he talks about altior. Willie is scared of him . Pure class . |
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Might be something niggling him going out to the left there.
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Suggests his right hand legs are sore!!!
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Henderson said: "Jumping left-handed is the sort of thing you see horses do around here. That was great, he's had a nice time, jumped well and done his own thing out in front.
"I think he was probably just idling out in front. Yes, he did drift to his left a couple of times, but it's not his natural trait to do that and it'll be left-handed next time anyway!" De Boinville added: "It was the first time he's made the running for a long time and he was just having a look around. He could have done with a lead. There was no point getting stuck in behind anything, though. "It's great he's built up such a nice sequence, he's a great horse and he can have a nice break now as we freshen him up for Cheltenham." Don't sound like they are too concerned. |
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What's poeple opinion on where this beast turns up next year? Do people see him ending up in the gold cup? If they go King George which looks likely given he is getting older and maybe needing a step in trip and he wins that will the gold cup be too tempting an opportunity to turn down? He would have the chance to confirm the horse as one of the best ever horses in national hunt game. Given the horses freakish ability and will to win you wouldn't rule it out.
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Lydia Hislop - "Your wondering whether he (Altior) might be suggesting its time to go up-in-trip potentially ?" Nico de Boinville replied "I'm not going to say that, I'll leave that to the 'governor', but ah, but I think the owners might want to give it a go at some stage". Hendo also mentioned that they would sit down during the summer and discuss a plan (so utterly useless to speculate in the meantime - Hendo's other superstar Sprinter Sacre almost exclusively stuck with the 2mile trip)
 EIGHTEEN straight wins & landed a second consecutive Champion Chase; emulating the record previously set by Big Bucks! |
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The way the trainer has talked lately,i think it highly likely he will step up in distance.
Whether that is Aintree this season, or a run somewhere next season, is the question mark. Looking at the way he runs it looks to me he will be fine going further.....but how much further before his effectiveness in winning races starts to wain,thats the bit they have to get right. I suspect he will step up to 2 and a half at first,then the possibilty of the big 3m chases will be discussed,or not!! depending on their conclusions. He is in a top yard,probably the best he could be, with a trainer that obviously cares a huge amount about him. So he should be running in the right races for him and his ability. Exciting times!!! |
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Hendo also mentioned that they would sit down during the summer and discuss a plan (so utterly useless to speculate in the meantime)
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I'm going to speculate!
From a stable perspective, it looks increasingly as if Might Bite's best days are behind him and it's hard to see him winning another King George. Santini did n't look like 3 miles around Kempton particularly played to his strengths in the Feltham (Kauto Star) - although in fairness he was beaten by two very good horses.It's possible his interrupted preparation contributed to him not quite being able to reverse the placings with Topofthegame in the RSA - you can see why they think he's a future Gold Cup horse. I think, all being well, Altior will run in the King George and then revert to 2 miles at the festival in an attempt to win a third Champion Chase.As well as Politologue and Sceau Royal ran it is hard to see them reversing the places (particularly on better ground) - though Sceau Royal is only in his second season chasing and had a truncated season last year so he could still have improvement in him.For me, the Arkle did n't really produce a horse who might be a threat to Altior (with respect to the winner who looked like he thrived in the conditions). Footpad could still conceivably challenge Altior's dominance over 2 miles but it's starting to look a long road back for him. So King George then Champion Chase for me.  |
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Whether or not you think Altior will run in next year's Gold Cup, surely Unibet's odds of 20/1 are way too big not to tempt an each-way bet for a small stake as I have placed. The horse owes me nothing, having won for me at four festivals now. While I'm on the subject, have any Forumites been paid festival winnings from BetBright? Some of my Altior money was bet at 11/8 with the firm which did in the end say they would honour Cheltenham bets but I see no movement yet.
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I think as connections were seriously considering the King George last year (alluded to by Hendo possibly after the dismal performance of Might Bite at Haydock) this would probably be on the agenda this season (4/1 fav with most bookies). If winning well eg winning going away, and not in the mode of Vautour ie 2l advantage at the last and chinned who's to say the Blue Riband race at the Festival will not be on the agenda.
Still a shame he ain't going for the Melling Chase next month at Aintree given the race over 20f could be an eye-opener regards his possible stamina limitation. |
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....says the man who does not know what grade 1 form is
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Has it been confirmed he doesn't go to Aintree? I would imagine if Henderson had any chance of pegging Nicholls back in the trainers championship it would require Altior to run at Aintree and Sandown. However I get the impression Nicky doesnt want it as much as Nicholls who is usually prepared to run his whole stable to makes sure he wins it.
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He was 4/7 for the Melling prior to the Festival, but he did have a hard race in the Champion Chase hence the rethink, I believe.
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It's been a while since Ireland had a population of 4 million. We're above 6.6m now.
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Hendo is leaning towards the Melling Chase at Aintree. He said: "Altior has come out of the Champion Chase well, better than last year for sure, so I'd quite like to go to Aintree for the Melling Chase, but I'd need to speak to the owners this weekend before we make any final decision."
It makes perfect sense to step him up in trip to 20f 1st if the King George (24f) is the main target for this year; he's 8/11 from 4/1. |
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Be interesting to see how they route his campaign next season if he wins well at Aintree. I would love to see him start in the Charlie Hall if there was decent ground there are not too many 2 and a half mile options available.
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Will he be given the going ahead this week for the Melling Chase? The market is indicating more likely (8/13) given his well-being and his probable main target this X'mas. If so, could he go Charlie Hall (3m) or straight to the King George? He certainly will not go the Betfair Chase, I'd think, even though £1m bonus could be tempting.
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Would the possibility of Cyrname running in the Melling Chase give Hendo and connections an added impetus to go for it, and kill two birds with one stone in the process ie rubbishing the superior rating of Cyrname above Altior plus indicating the chances of the latter's participation in the King George Chase? I hope so regardless of who else are running.
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Why dont you give him a call and ask him ?
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Altior not ready for Aintree.
Runs next in the celebration chase at sandown. Nice day out to see the superstar,look forward to that. |
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I think it was the correct decision not running here and waiting for the Celebration Chase at Sandown a few weeks later - Altior did have a hard race in the Champion Chase, I believe.
Looking forward to the King George, and possibly the Gold Cup (personally I've grave doubts) or Champion Chase (again) in 2020, all being well. |
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Just read in the RP
Hes had another wind op Wonder how long this procedure can be suceesfull  |
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Shame he lost his unbeaten jumps record,but run well against a real good horse at that course and distance.
Be interesting to see his next entry. |
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Not ready for the King George it seems. He's drifting like a barge with no steering.
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I think next time we see the superstar will be at Ascot
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Desert Orchid Chase. A bad day at the office for me.
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Yep,seems hes now ok for a run at Kempton over xmas.
Back to 2 miles. Just cannot see him going 3 miles this season now. Pretty confident, if we see him at the festival,it will be Champion chase. |
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Not ready for tge king george ?
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HE DOESNT STAY
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NEITHER DOES THAT OTHER "HIGHEST RATED CHASER"
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There were a number of very lofty RPR,s dished out for that Ascot meeting and I just wonder if they over estimated how testing the ground was. It would not surprise me at all if the performances that day were not quite as good as assumed. It is a little surprising to me that nobody even seems to be questioning the Cyrname altior form at all. For me altior never looked himself from start to finish and I do not think he run anywhere near to the RPR he was given and if that is correct Cyrname didn’t either.
It’s all about opinions and no doubt I will end up with egg on my face but I agree with Irish. I am very sceptical at Cyrname rating and do not think either he or Altior get a true run 3 miles. It’s all about opinion and mine is there to be shot at. Mr N is excelling himself this season with bluster. On a number of occasions he has given excuses for first time out performances and stated categorically a horse will improve ‘massively’ for the run only to disappoint second time out as well and on those rare occasions when he has been proven right he makes sure we all know he told us so. I am sure if the KG doesn’t go his way he has his excuses already lined up one of which will not be the horse is not as good as we have said. |
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Just to provide a little more context. altior was given the same RPR as he was when beating UDS 4 lengths and Special Tiara 8 lengths and only 1 point less than when beating Fox Norton 7 lengths ....... seriously
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If I'm not mistaken Nichols said the same about Politologue prior to the horse's attempt at this race and trip. Also, I do not think Cyrname stays this trip in a proper Gp 1 race; he was beaten by Finian's Oscar and Mr Whitaker after leading most of the way over 2m 4f; he beat a below par Waiting Patiently and Altior both times at Ascot.
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altior nr over xmas
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Now what then? Victor Chandler and then Queen Mum.......I hope!!!!
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His next race is the Silviniaco Conti over 20f at Kempton this weekend. Does it mean he'd go for the Gold Cup if winning going away? He's also entered for the Clarence Chase a week later, but the intention is run run this weekend.
Hendo has admitted he was under-cooked for his 1st race. No wonder the poor sausage finished soooooooo tired - near distress even. |