Matt Chapman has his say on Altior and Native River and has a tip for the Betfair Hurdle in his latest Sun Racing column
‘LEST we forget’ is a saying used every year at Remembrance Day ceremonies as a reminder for those who died in war.
Such is the nature of modern day life it’s easy for generations to forget the brave of the brave who literally gave their all for you and me.
In the closeted world of horse racing the need for a quick fix during a packed fixture list also means that stars are soon labelled ‘has beens’ or a ‘light of former days’.
One of those stars, Altior, is back in action on ITV4 in the Grade 2 Betfair Exchange Chase at Newbury today and there will be many punters feeling he has a massive point to prove. That, though, could be mightily unfair.
Trained by the former champion Nicky Henderson, Altior has had a troubled season, leaving many to forget that his CV includes a fabulous success in a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, an Arkle victory, two Tingle Creeks and a couple of Champion Chases.
The issues arose from the desire to step Altior up in trip, something that he looked sure to relish after doing his best work towards the end of his races in 2019.
So he returned at Ascot – having had a wind operation – over 2m5f in November, only to be turned over at odds of 1-3 by Cyrname.
He’s been absent since – missing a Kempton engagement at Christmas because of an abscess on his withers – with connections also stating he hasn’t quite been 100% in his work.
Henderson said: “We said we would have a go at a longer distance, but what we did was leave all the other races like the Clarence House and Tingle Creek going begging.
“It was the wrong thing to do, but there was a lot of pressure put on us, saying ‘Come on, do something different. If you say he is a champion, prove he can stay. Otherwise he is just a boring two-mile chaser’. So, he’s a boring two-mile chaser.
“Remember when Frankel moved up two furlongs and everybody said, ‘My God, can he get it?’. He was brilliant at York, and he was fantastic, but we were going five furlongs further in bottomless ground – and we were not prepared.
“I admit that, and it was my fault. He was as fit as I could get him first time out, but you don’t normally expect to come into that sort of clash on your first appearance.”
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Henderson added: “He looks well – and everything with the abscess is fine, I hope, touch wood – but these things can come and bite you.
“He is pretty ready. He does his work as well as ever.”
The simple truth is if Altior is anywhere near his best he will hack up this afternoon. And I fully expect him to do so.
Lest we forget, he has been one of the absolute legendary performers in recent campaigns, and at the age of ten there is no reason why he can’t still be right at the top of the game. I would back him at 11-4 for the Champion Chase before he goes out to war this afternoon.
Also at Newbury today is this column’s each-way hope for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, namely Native River, who should have a walk in the park in the Grade 2 Denman Chase.
Trained by Colin Tizzard, and of course the hero of Cheltenham in 2018, Native River returned this season with a bloodless success at Aintree. This should be easy pickings, although he has a new partner in Jonjo O’Neill Jr.
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For Altior and Native River only impressive successes will be good enough to encourage their Festival followers, but the big betting race of the day at Newbury is all about just getting the job done.
That test is the Betfair Hurdle, and I can’t help but think Willie Mullins has a fascinating challenger in Ciel De Neige.
That said, he will have to be at the top of his game, as the likes of Mack The Man and Not So Sleepy are seriously talented.
The latter might try and do a Make A Stand, who took this prize form the front before going on to Champion Hurdle success.
I loved Make a Stand, who was brilliantly trained by Martin Pipe. I remember his son, now trainer David, had a bet with his mum that if Make a Stand won he could have any car he liked.
He didn’t get ‘any’ car, but he did receive a nice motor out of it. Let’s hope Ciel De Neige is the one with the gears today!