Altior odds-on for the Queen Mother Champion Chase after dream Newbury comeback
Nicky Henderson was delighted with Altior's comeback after the Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite bolted up at Newbury, while there were big wins at the Berkshire course for Colin Tizzard's Native River and Amy Murphy's Kalashnikov.
ALTIOR breezed into odds-on for the Champion Chase when bolting up on his comeback at Newbury.
Sidelined by a breathing operation since the final day of last season, he only had to be nudged out by Sun Racing columnist Nico de Boinville to see off Tingle Creek hero Politologue by four lengths.
It completed an unbeaten run of a dozen wins since the 1-3 favourite switched from bumpers two season ago.
His Betfair Exchange Chase victory prompted Sun Bets to cut him to a red-hot 8-11 favourite for the Cheltenham Festival’s top two-mile chase.
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Trainer Nicky Henderson, who admitted to pre-race nerves, said: “You have to say that was perfection. If he was going to get beaten today was the day.
“He has got so much pace this horse. I was fairly confident if he could get to the second-last upsides on the bridle it would be hard for a horse to go with him.”
A plan to run Altior in the Tingle Creek in December had to be shelved when a breathing problem was discovered on the gallops. There were no signs of any wind bother yesterday.
De Boinville revealed: “He felt fantastic and didn’t make any noises – we’re back on track.
“I’m just happy it all went to plan and he’s back in one piece. I’m thinking about Cheltenham now.”
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Native River was cut to 5-1 by Sun Bets for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after an all-the-way 12-length victory in the Betfair Denman Chase.
Colin Tizzard’s ace – third in last year’s Gold Cup – was making a belated comeback in the three-runner contest after suffering a ligament problem.
Tizzard grinned: “That’s absolutely what we wanted – it couldn’t have gone any better.”
The £155,000 Betfair Hurdle field returned like they had galloped through the Grimpen Mire.
Jack Quinlan was pumping away on Kalashnikov turning out of the back straight but the 8-1 shot stormed through the gloom to grab glory for Britain’s youngest trainer 25-year-old Amy Murphy.
She said: “I couldn’t see him half way around and couldn’t hear him on the commentary.
“When they turned into the straight I could see what was left of his white face.
“I was very concerned about the ground but he’s so tough. He’ll go to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham – he’s given us no reason to go anywhere else.”