CHELTENHAM NEWS

Another Festival miss for Altior

Nicky Henderson has announced that Altior will again be absent from the Cheltenham Festival, missing out for the second straight year.

The 11-year-old had looked primed to match 80s icon Badsworth Boy by winning three successive Queen Mother Champion Chases last year but was withdrawn on the morning of the race.

Also a winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2016 and the Arkle in 2017, Altior has made it to the track just twice since seeing his 19-race winning streak ended by Cyrname in the Christy 1965 Chase in November 2019.

Henderson had previously reported that he had schooled well and that the son of High Chaparral would be ready for Wednesday and another shot at the Queen Mother.

However, the Seven Barrows handler confirmed via Twitter on Monday that connections have now had to withdraw him on health grounds.

A statement read: “We are very sorry that we have taken the decision not to run Altior in the Champion Chase on Wednesday.

“He coughed after exercise this morning, which caused us to scope him, and as a result of what we have seen it would not be sensible to run him.”