ALTIOR’S comeback run at Kempton this Saturday has been aborted.
Trainer Nicky Henderson announced on Friday he was an intended runner in the Grade 2, but after a marked drift on Tuesday morning, he declared his stable star would not be running.
Inserted as the 1-3 when entries were made yesterday, less than 24 hours later the two-time Champion Chase hero was as big as 5-2 with many bookmakers.
Stablemate Top Notch was 5-1 first thing on Tuesday, but bookmakers took swift action as the money came.
Betway now have Top Notch as the 8-11 jolly with Paul Nicholls’ Frodon next in at 2-1.
On the news, Henderson said: “Altior will now not take his chance in the Unibet Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton at the weekend because we do not feel he looks his absolute best.
“Despite working well on Saturday he is still not 100% compared to previous years and he could still be feeling the side effects of the antibiotics he was given to treat the abscess on his wither.
“Altior owes us nothing at all so our one and only priority is his wellbeing so it would be unkind to run him if he isnt at his brilliant best.
“I would like to add that his blood test yesterday was perfect and he is very well within himself but this is a case of instinct, and our instinct tells us that he just doesnt look as good as he can do.
“He will be given 10 days on the easy list and spend some time on the water treadmill. Well throw everything at him to get him right so well tuck him up and give him the very best.
“Hes fit so its just a case of ticking him over. The plan is for him run in the Game Spirit at Newbury and he will be given one entry at Cheltenham which will be in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.”
Altior is the current 3-1 favourite for the Champion Chase with Coral, but hot on his heels is Defi Du Seuil who runs next week in the Clarence House at Ascot.
Altior will NOT run in either Silviniaco Chase or Clarence House next week at Ascot
The aim is to run at Newbury in the Game Spirit and his only entry at Cheltenham will be in the Champion Chase
Thoughts?
— Sun Racing (@SunRacing) January 7, 2020
On this morning’s events, David Stevens of Coral – who suspended betting on the Kempton race – said: “For an hour this morning we were only laying Top Notch for Saturday’s Silviniaco Conti Chase.
“Just after 10am we took the decision to suspend betting on the race. It therefore didn’t come as a complete surprise when Altior was ruled out of the race later in the morning.
“Ante-post betting obviously carries an added element of risk for both punter and bookmaker, and on this occasion it’s the Top Notch backers who appear to have been rewarded for their foresight.
“Incidents like this highlight the need for information to be put into the public domain as quickly as possible, in order for both punters and layers to maintain complete confidence in the sport as a betting medium.”
