IT’S destination Newbury for Altior as Nicky Henderson ruled his star out of Saturday’s Clarence House Chase.
The forecast at Ascot this week is for plenty of rain and his trainer is keen to find the perfect spot for him after his stumbling start to the season.
Altior is as short as 5-2 for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham
The Betfair Exchange Chase – known as the Game Spirit, a race Altior has won before – is on the agenda for the Champion Chase favourite.
He took the Grade 2 on his way to Festival glory in both 2017 and 2018 and Henderson is hoping for a better surface than he would have encountered on Saturday.
Henderson said: “I’ve spoken to (Ascot clerk of the course) Chris Stickels and (owner) Pat Pugh and in view of the forecast, we haven’t confirmed him.
“We’ll keep everything up our sleeve option-wise, but I think he will run in the Game Spirit whatever happens – he’s run in that before when it was soft and won, and it was soft the year he beat Politologue.
“That’s the objective.”
It meant there were only five confirmations for the Clarence House at Ascot on Saturday – headed by Defi Du Seuil and Un De Sceaux.
They will take on Capeland, Janika and Marracudja in the two mile and one furlong Grade 1.
