David Ord on Altior, Harry Cobden's King George dilemma and Ribble Valley
Our man with his thoughts on the campaign ahead of Altior, Harry Cobden's King George dilemma and a big hope for the north heading to Ascot.
Only one route likely for Altior
The news that Altior is "extremely unlikely" to run in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day didn’t come as a huge surprise – nor does the fact he look to be heading back down the two-mile route after one run.
The decision to go up in trip this term was a sporting one, seemingly owner led, but having gone in deep against Cyrname at Ascot last month he lost both his unbeaten record over timber and the chance to follow in the hoofprints of the likes of Arkle, Desert Orchid and Kauto Star at Kempton.
Nicky Henderson’s charge cut a tired figure in the unsaddling enclosure in Berkshire and a lack of fireworks in a Saturday gallop meant connections are now mulling over a Plan B.
Timings wise we’re looking at one run before Cheltenham and it’s hard to imagine that outing, wherever it is, acting as a springboard to the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Certainly the Desert Orchid Chase – at the same Kempton Christmas Festival as the King George - wouldn’t. And on Saturday afternoon as he mulled over Call Me Lord’s win in the Unibet International Hurdle, the master of Seven Barrows wasn’t ruling that “less gruelling” festive target out for Altior.
The temptation to revert to two miles and bid to win a third Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase must be overwhelming. After all it’s a division he’s reigned with authority for some time but then again it hardly looked like a lack of stamina that saw him beaten at Ascot.
And if it is to be the two-mile route then he’ll find a couple of young pretenders laying in wait. Defi Du Seuil continues to shape as though he’s ready to claim the crown, edging out Un De Sceaux in a thrilling Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown having found himself in front soon enough when jumping past his rival at the last.
Then there’s Chacun Pour Soi, who has only raced twice for Willie Mullins but overcame a lack of experience to thump a good Grade One field at Punchestown in the spring in the style of a horse destined for the very top.
Much has been said – and written – about Altior already this term. Ruby Walsh advocated the use of headgear to sharpen his jumping up post Ascot. Others have rightly pointed out the wide-open nature of the Unibet Champion Hurdle. What price would be the best two-mile chaser of his generation be if he was asked to take on the current speed crop over timber?
But that seems less likely than a King George bid and for now the experiment of testing our star two mile chaser over further is seemingly over.
A shame – but at least he returns to a group freshened up significantly from when he last dipped his toes in those waters last spring. It won’t be straightforward but racing needs a fit and firing Altior at the Cheltenham Festival and suddenly it seems there’s only one, familiar, door left open to him there.
Dilemma for Cobden?
Talking of the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase…which we originally were…I just wonder whether the decision faced by Harry Cobden over which of the Paul Nicholls juggernauts to ride is quite as straightforward as it seems?
Cyrname is the highest rated chaser in training, would be the choice of his trainer was he still in the saddle and has rekindled memories of the great Kauto Star among those closest to him at Ditcheat.
Throw in the fact he’s favourite and it seems a no-brainer.
But that would mean getting off Clan Des Obeaux – a horse who did so much for his jockey’s career when winning this race last year and who Cobden has played such a pivotal role in moulding.
He’s ridden him in his last nine starts having taken over in a graduation chase at Kempton in November 2017. During that spell the partnership have won three times as Clan Des Obeaux has developed into one of the best staying chasers in training.
He has his quirks and takes a bit of knowing – he needs playing late and is more about speed than stamina - but is only seven and there are lots more big days ahead of him.
Sean Bowen is waiting-in-the-wings for whichever horse Cobden deserts and has won aboard Clan Des Obeaux before, at Newbury in November 2016. But it’s fair to say he knows a lot more about Cyrname.
He’s been aboard the son of Nickname nine times and was the go-to jockey for the gelding in the 2017-18 campaign, winning both the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton and the Pendil at Ascot.
He’s Cobden’s ride now but is a horse Bowen knows inside out.
The likelihood remains he’ll ride Clan Des Obeaux on Boxing Day but it’s not quite as clear-cut as would appear at first glance. In terms of natural fits Bowen on Cyrname would seemingly, from the outside, makes more sense.
Whether that logic appeals to Harry Cobden might be another matter.
Happy Valley for Richards?
One of the more pleasurable tasks as a young racing journalist with BBC Ceefax (kids, ask your dad) was to speak to Gordon Richards about then rising star One Man in the mid 1990s.
Inevitably you’d be told the “rubber ball is bouncing” and the dashing grey ran his rivals ragged to win back-to-back King Georges in 1995 (staged at Sandown in the January) and 1996.
He was one of the last true northern-trained jumps stars - but on Friday at Ascot we might just see the next one.
Ribble Valley is housed in the same Greystoke stables where One Man once reigned and has looked a distinct cut above average in two novice hurdles so far.
Nicky Richards has given him an entry in Friday’s Sky Bet Supreme Trial at Ascot and it would be an intriguing next stage to his education.
The five-year-old had at least one gear too many for impressive Newbury winner Sir Valentine at Wetherby last time and has a few of the older heads in the northern press room more than a little excited.
His trainer is too experienced to get carried away but it’s fascinating that he’s heading south so soon and laying in wait are teams Tizzard, Nicholls and Henderson.
Master Debonair, McFabulous and Time Flies By all hold powerful reputations within those star-studded battalions – but the Richards team know a good one when they have one too.
In the David Wesley Yates silks carried by Monet’s Garden, Ribble Valley could give his in-form trainer and northern racing fans a significant shot in the arm ahead of the Christmas celebrations.
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