SPORT doesn’t get much more exciting than this. The best chaser in the business against the chaser most believe is the best in the business!
Yes, it’s Cyrname v Altior in a battle of the titans at Ascot today.
This is racing’s equivalent of Joe Frazier v Muhammad Ali, Steve Ovett v Seb Coe, Usain Bolt v Tyson Gay and an Ashes between Australia and England. In other words – it’s huge.
And it’s not just about two fantastic chasers taking each other on. The result effects the rest of the National Hunt season, with races over two miles to three and a quarter miles feeling the ripples from the outcome.
Altior, trained by the magnificent Nicky Henderson, is bidding to land 20 races in a row – he’s 14 from 14 over fences – although he’s never been as far as today’s trip of two miles and five furlongs.
Meanwhile Cyrname is handled by Henderson’s great rival and current champion Paul Nicholls. He’s undefeated in two races over this afternoon’s distance and is officially rated 1lb superior.
However, when it comes to Grade 1 successes it’s ten to one in favour of Altior.
For those of you who don’t know, Altior has been the supreme two mile chaser in recent times, but last term looked like a horse who would enjoy going further despite taking the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
Connections are keen to see how he gets on, as a horse who has always finished off powerfully over the minimum trip.
Henderson said: “Altior has been in great form and his work has been excellent. It is going to be a fascinating clash and it will sort out one thing, who is the top-rated horse?
“His jumping is so quick and slick, so hopefully his jumping will help him relax, which I hope he does. If he goes into attack mode, it will get very aggressive early on.
“Everybody says it is boring watching him go round over two miles, so lets show us what he can do. He has got so many gears – if he is a stayer, he is the most remarkable horse Ive ever seen.”
Cyrname used to be a bit of a nutter, but he came of age in 2018 as his personality changed and he began to settle for big-race rider Harry Cobden.
In particular, Cyrname was brilliant in the the Betfair Chase at Ascot in February, destroying classy performers like Waiting Patiently, Fox Norton and Politologue.
In Flat terms, Cyrname is exuberant like Frankel, Altior more a Sea The Stars type, so he’s almost certainly significantly better than his official mark.
On this occasion I would side with Cyrname, as Altior has shown a tendency to jump left at Ascot, something the former might be able to take advantage from.
But Nico de Boinville will be on the case aboard Altior.
It just promises to a cracking contest, and we could see next year’s Champion Chase hero, this term’s King George victor or a Gold Cup legend. Anything is possible.
