Trainer Nicky Henderson will take Altior to Newbury in February instead of Ascot next Saturday in preparation for his Arkle Trophy bid.
It had been thought that the 66-year-old would pitch last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner into the Berkshire Community Foundation Clarence House Chase at Ascot ahead of his attempt at winning the Arkle at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival in March.
However, Henderson issued an update on Altior on Sunday and revealed that he will be kept under wraps longer with next month’s Game Spirit Chase at Newbury pencilled in.
It means Altior, who was last seen winning by 18 lengths in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas, will take the same route to Cheltenham which Sprinter Sacre did on his way to Arkle glory in 2012.
Henderson told the Racing Post: “Altior will not run in the Clarence House.
“He has just finished his mid-winter break and it comes a bit soon, especially as it would mean putting him into a Grade 1 in open company.
“There are a few other options for him but the Game Spirit looks the most likely as I do like Newbury and the timings work well.”
