Awesome Altior Wins 18th in a Row

An 18th win in a row, and a fourth win at the Cheltenham Festival for Altior, and perhaps the most impressive part of it all is that we probably still haven’t seen him over his best trip. He looks every inch a three miler, but continues to get himself out of trouble and dominate the two mile division. When you think he could be even better over further, what a scary prospect that really is.

He was by no means at his best yesterday, but what this horse does is show great courage and willingness to win. He came up the hill brilliantly, and would not let either of his two challengers, Sceau Royal and Politologue, take away his crown.

What happens next season is something that will be sorted out over the summer according to Nicky Henderson, but the feeling is that he will go over three miles. Rider Nico de Boinville certainly hinted that he would do that if the decision was his, and he is the man who usually rides Might Bite, the best three miler in the yard. If he is moving towards stepping up in trip, he must feel that the horse can be better than Might Bite.

For me, he looks tailor made for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, and I don’t think we will see the two mile champion over that distance after this season.