The Racing Post Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival is the key target for the Nicky Henderson-trained Altior, the Seven Barrows handler has confirmed.
Altior stylishly won last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park, the culmination of an unbeaten five-race sequence over timber for the High Chaparral gelding.
Henderson has revealed the summer months have been spent deliberating over whether to go the novice chase route or target Altior at the Champion Hurdle, with the former eventually winning out.
“We had always hoped he was a bit special and I am glad to say hopes were realised last season,” said Henderson.
“We have spent the summer deliberating as to whether he should stay over hurdles with a view to having a look at the Champion, or switch to fences and aim at the Arkle.
“After a lot of thought, discussion and, at times, a lot of indecision, we have decided to take the novice chase route.”
Altior would have potentially faced the likes of Faugheen and Annie Power had he been aimed at the Champion Hurdle.
While his trainer is confident that Altior would not have been out of place in that esteemed company, he says the option of going over fences really needed to be grasped this season or not at all.
“He is now a six-year-old, rising seven, and if we do not go chasing now I suspect we might never,” Henderson told the Racing Post.
“Second, it was very obvious that he had grown considerably through the summer and although he was always a big horse, he now looks like a chaser, and as much as it would be tempting to see if he was good enough for a Champion Hurdle, which I think he is, we have plumped for fences.”
Annie Power is 4.50 to win the Champion Hurdle while former winner Faugheen is 3.00.
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