Don’t miss Unibet ambassador Nico de Boinville’s latest column as he reflects on Altior’s Champion Chase win
Nico de Boinville talks about Altior's Champion Chase win and talks through day 3 of Cheltenham - despite being at Towcester!
"Read the thoughts of four-time Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson and stable jockey Nico de Boinville exclusively at Unibet each week throughout the Jump Season. Unibet are an award-winning sports betting and casino operator with over 16 million customers, and proud sponsors of the Unibet Champion Hurdle, The Irish Gold Cup and betting partner of the Investec Derby."
HE’S a freak. I can’t put it any other way.
It was an incredible performance from Altior to win the Champion Chase.
I’m sure that was his best performance of his career as he had so much to overcome.
We were in trouble the whole way round and I thought we were beaten at the top of the hill. That just shows he’s a true champion – he can get out of trouble when he is in trouble.
We got boxed in turning for home but as soon as he found a bit of daylight he found his gears.
When I pulled him out into the straight he seemed to grow. He just took off but that’s what he’s always been able to do. The turn of foot he showed on that ground was incredible.
He was hating the ground – every bit of it.
When we crossed the line all the emotion came out – you cannot beat that feeling.
This means an awful lot to an awful lot of people. This is why we’re all here.
Monday seems a long time ago when he had a scare with his foot. I only found out about it when I read it on the internet – if it had been serious I would have been told before that.
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I called up straight away and our assistant reassured me it was absolutely fine. It was the ground that was troubling me more.
I was so lucky to have won this race on Sprinter Sacre a couple of years and now I’ve won it on another sensational horse.
Those types of horses come once in a lifetime – we’ve had two one after the other.
It’s going to be a bit different today.
I’m certainly not choosing to go to Towcester – I’d obviously rather be at Cheltenham. It’s just how it’s dropped but I’ll be back on Friday, that’s for sure.
I’ve got plenty to look forward to with Might Bite in the Gold Cup and the guv’nor Nicky Henderson going for a clean sweep of the three championship races.
He has some good chances at the Festival today.
I give L’Ami Serge (3.30) a good each-way in the Stayers’ Hurdle. You have to produce him late but he has got an awful lot of ability.
It would be a great story if Sam Spinner won. I’ve been in behind him before - he goes a good gallop and he stays.
Thomas Campbell (2.10) has blinkers on for the first time. He’s got top weight for a reason but he wouldn’t want the ground too soft.
Countister (4.50) was my first winner for JP McManus when she won at Doncaster. It was nice to break my duck in the green-and-gold and I’d loved the way she won that day.
She’s a nice mare and she’s been progressing nicely but she’s another who will be better on decent ground.
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My old friend Sugar Baron (5.30) has got his own way of going about things. He likes to have plenty of daylight.
He flew up the hill when second in an amateur’s race at Cheltenham in November – then he did the same thing with me at Sandown.
He does take a bit of riding – you need to make sure he has as nice a time as possible.
That's just what I had yesterday and I've got Altior to thank for all of that.