On Sunday, trainer Nicky Henderson announced that Altior’s chances of running in the 2020 Champion Chase at Cheltenham had taken a hit. The great 2-mile champion was reported as lame on Sunday, just three days before the Champion Chase.
That was a massive bombshell, with Henderson saying that it was either a bony growth or a splint.
On Monday, Altior was out at 3/1 in Queen Mother Champion Chase betting, having previously lead the market* (betting odds taken from Betfred at 17:43 GMT on Monday, 9th March 2020)
2020 Champion Chase Odds*
Defi Du Seuil 13/8
Chacun Pour Soi 2/1
Altior 3/1
Dynamite Dollars 15/1
Politologue 20/1
Sceau Royal 22/1
Bun Doran 80/1
* (betting odds taken from Betfred at 17:43 GMT on Monday, 9th March 2020)
Will punters miss out on epic battle?
Altior won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2018 and 2019 and his return to the Cheltenham Festival this year, saw him entered in one of the most anticipated races of all. It’s been dubbed “The Race Of The Festival”.
That’s because Altior is set to defend his crown against Defi Du Seuil und Chacun Pour Soi, two excitingly fierce challengers.
Altior has been declared for the race still, as he strives to become the first horse to win the Champion Chase three times since Badsworth Boy did it in 1985.
Extra interest following defeat
Adding extra excitement to the Altior v Defi Du Seuil v Chacun Pour Soi prospect in the Champion Chase, was Altior suffering his first ever loss over the jumps last November.
He was beaten on an unfamiliar longer trip by Cyrname.
However, Altior returned to winning ways at Newbury in February, back on familiar 2-mile territory.
Defi Du Seuil moved to the head of the market as the 13/8 favourite following the Altior news* (betting odds taken from Betfred at 17:43 GMT on Monday, 9th March 2020).
Still time for Altior to shine
There is still time however for Altior to get ready and Nicky Henderson sounded a bit more optimistic on Monday, having been heavily deflated on Sunday in breaking the news. A fit Altior would have been facing the toughest challenge of his career on Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival. Will he be in it?
