Nicky Henderson: “I am extremely happy with Altior. His work has been excellent”

Luke Morris |

November 22, 2019

ANOTHER quiet weekend for us again but arguably one of our biggest with Altior making his eagerly awaited seasonal debut and stepping up in trip. It’s a race that has long been the plan and has, quite rightly, been getting plenty of publicity and despite there being just three runners, Cyrname is the highest rated horse and we go there having won our last 19 races so it’s certainly going to be a proper horse race!

ASCOT

2:05 G2 Christy Chase

Altior (Nico de Boinville)

We were always going to come here but it was important to keep him in at Haydock just in case anything happened at Ascot as I would have looked pretty stupid if we weren’t entered and ended up with nowhere to go because it was crucial that he ran this weekend to fit in with the King George on Boxing Day. There’s nothing else to add that hasn’t already been said in the press this week other than the fact that I am extremely happy with him and his work has been excellent, as has his schooling. There are only three runners so it has the potential to prove tactical but I’d expect Cyrname to go out in front and make it a true test, but who knows what will really happen? It’s all done now and what will be will be, that’s all I can say.

If this promo doesn't get the juices flowing, nothing will!

A huge, huge clash between two equine superstars. BRING. IT. ON. https://t.co/QKI9x8zgcN

— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) November 21, 2019

12:20 Novice Hurdle

Valtor (James Bowen)

He is rated 157 over fences so you’d like to think he’d have a very good chance in this and it seemed an obvious moment to make full use of his novice status at the grand old age of ten! He’s not coming here for a prep race for anything else and I want to win a hurdle race with him.

12:55 Novice Handicap Chase

Pym (Nico de Boinville)

I wanted to go three miles at Fakenham the other day but we decided to skip that and come here for the better ground and I think he’ll get the trip absolutely no problem. He’s owned by the Pughs so hopefully they’ll have a good day out and I’m sure he can put in a good effort for them.

2:40 G2 Hurdle

Call Me Lord (Nico de Boinville)

I’ve always said he needs to go right handed so options are limited but he’s in excellent form and working very well. This is a very good race with the likes of Roksana and If The Cap Fits but our horse is pretty forward and I think he’s more of a hurdler than a chaser. He looks absolutely superb, I must say.

QUESTIONS TO @SEVENBARROWS

At the last count there were over 100 questions and unfortunately I haven’t got time to answer all of them because I’m only on my way to Ascot from Lambourn, which isn’t that far, so I’ve picked just a few and my apologies if yours isn’t answered!

@Boxingdynamo

Hi Nicky, you’ve been in the game for years, would you say the horses are getting better these days than they were say 15-20 years ago?

I would say so, yes. The way horses are trained has completely changed over the last 10/15 years and they are much fitter nowadays. The real, absolute, superstars only come around every four or five years and, at the top end, racing is probably to a higher standard now but that’s just the way things have progressed and the science which has now become available.

@WJSteer

Where do you rank Shishkin at this stage among your previous talented novice hurdlers and what do you think his trip will be? Massive good luck for the season Nicky

He actually worked this morning and I don’t think he’s quite there just yet, but very near and he’s about two or three weeks off a run.

@ciaranmcb90

AP McCoy told the Sporting Life during the week that he thinks Champ will be a Gold Cup winner one day, do you agree with AP?

I hope he’s right as he’s quite a good judge but I must admit I haven’t looked that far forward yet. He schooled this morning and the plan is to go to Newbury next weekend which will be the next step up for him and we’ll probably miss the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Feltham) at Kempton and head to Cheltenham on New Year’s Day for the Dipper which gives us a little more time in between races.

@On_TheNod

Humphrey Bogart. What’s the latest and the plan? Not seen since last season.

He has been retired.

@LuckyLoaders15

When’s Dickie Diver due to run and do you think he could be better than Champ?

I’m afraid Dickie Diver won’t be seen any time soon as he picked up a bit of a problem and is very much on the sidelines at the moment so I’m not sure how long it’s going to take. It is extremely disappointing and a real blow but I hope to have him back in full training but when that will be, I simply cannot say.

@KidTheHorseBhoy

Hi Nicky, any word on Dickie Diver and Chantry House’s seasonal reappearances?

Dickie Diver – see above. As for Chantry House, he’s doing very well and Barry Geraghty rode him in a piece of work this morning and he’s very nearly ready to run. He could end up going to Newcastle next weekend to accompany Buveur D’Air in the lorry as there’s a nice EBF Maiden Hurdle which we have used for quite a few of ours down the years, including Champagne Platinum twelve months ago so it could be that he heads up to Gosforth Park for a day out.