Cheltenham favorite Altior has to overcome hoof issue
CHELTENHAM, England. -- A foot scare earlier this week may be the only thing that can derail Altior in Wednesday’s Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Altior was found to have pus in the frog of a front foot, according to trainer Nicky Henderson, which kept the 8-year-old gelding from galloping on Monday. The problem was not an issue on Tuesday, leading to a conventional training session and the hope from Henderson that Altior will be ready to win his 13th consecutive race in the $556,000 Queen Mother, which is run at two miles over 13 fences.
Altior is uneaten in three starts at Cheltenham, including the Grade 1 Arkle Chase for novice chasers here last March. In November, before his first start of the 2017-18 season, Altior underwent an operation to aid his breathing. He has had one start since then, winning the Grade 2 Betfair Exchange Chase at two miles at Newbury Racecourse on Feb. 10.
Regular rider Nico de Boinville has the mount.
Altior was an even-money shot in future book betting on Monday and was available at 5-4 with bookmakers on Tuesday after the injury scare.
Altior’s winning streak includes an unexpected match race at Kempton Park in November, 2016. The race drew a larger field, but scratches on a wet day led to only two starters.
There has been support from bettors for Douvan, who has not raced since finishing seventh as the 2-9 favorite in the 2017 Queen Mother Champion Chase. Douvan, trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins, was found to have injured a pelvis in the race, resulting in the lengthy layoff.
Popular Irish jockey Ruby Walsh will ride Douvan, who was 3-1 on Tuesday.
Mullins also starts Min, the easy winner of the Grade 2 Dublin Chase at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland on Feb. 3. Min has finished first in his last five starts, but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Reward Club Chase at Leopardstown on Dec. 27.
The field includes Special Tiara, who won the 2017 Queen Mother Champion Chase at 11-1 and will be a longshot after losing all three of his starts in the current season.