Like Oddy says Ron we need them to keep coming through as the years pass us by, so lets hope he can live up to the lofty quotes then eh...?
170 for beat Fox Norton and Traffic Fluide who were having their first run back from injury. Not for me just yet.
I certainly think he has the attributes to be as good. Sprinter Sacre was quite a horse in his prime, unbelievable almost. It would be good to see him continue up and up but at the end of the day, we won't know how good he is until the form is tested over a larger period of time.
When he beats the best of the English and the Irish in the space of 2 months so convincingly with previous champion chasers and a Ryanair/king George winner in the field making them look like handicappers then maybe he can be put in the same sentence as the Black Aeroplane. He definitely has the potential to be but that is potential we need to see it and hopefully we do and another potential star doesn't get taken away from is before we really see how good he is, but based on current form. No way near at the moment. But we need a new star and hopefully he is the one
I must admit I was astonished to see this claim and tend to agree that he is over rated at present. He may have the potential but he needs to realise that potential before he can be compared to SS Timeform are more realistic. 15lb to make up on Douvan Remember Barney raving about a certain Mite Bite some time ago? Didn't start off with a bang; but look at him now
If Douvan goes up in trip next season, he could be a sight to behold. Impeccable jumper and seemingly a huge engine he possesses. Must have a fair sized heart that boy.
Love Altior and think he looks a real chaser. But he has done nothing thus far to warrant that rating. Fox Norton IMO is overrated simply for wearing the Potts colours! I think something like 165p is a fairer mark? He's obviously smart, the Supreme form was looking reasonably strong, and it's highly likely he'll be a 170 chaser. But fully agree we should be waiting until after the Championship events and give him time to earn the lofty ratings. Still flabbergasted that he's by High Chapparal!
One aspect he'd definitely want to iron out is his jumping a bit, to be put in the same breath as Sprinter or Douvan anyway. Might be visually impressive to clear the fence by a couple of feet but its certainly not the fastest way over them! Compare it with Douvan, who let's not forget is the same age as Altior. Douvan has the ability to basically hurdle his fences like very few I can recall. I'm sure with Altior he'll improve this with experience, there's no doubting the engine, power or speed he possesses. Very little chinks bar this one I've highlighted to becoming a great, just hope he gets some competition along the way to measure him fully.
At this precise moment the answer has to be ‘who knows’ as Altior has not been asked to race in earnest or even run at Championship level over fences whereas the ‘Black Aeroplane’ has seen it, done it and worn the T-shirt. However, I think it’s ridiculous to say that Altior couldn’t get to that level, or even surpass it, at this stage, and think it silly when we hear quotes like there will never be another Arkle / Kauto / Denman / Sprinter (delete as appropriate) before even considering the merits of new arrivals on the scene. Whilst on the subject of Altior what I do have a problem with is his Cheltenham target. Isn’t it barmy that one of the sport’s most high profile, best and exciting animals is set to run in a race as comparatively low-key as the Arkle (a decent prize no doubt but it hardly registers on the radar when put alongside a Champion Chase or Champion Hurdle). I’m sure the tradionalists and racing purists (remember them?!?) will be spluttering on their mid-morning GnT’s right now and exclaiming ‘he’s a 2 mile novice it’s the race for him’ but why is it?!? Seems dappy to me that one of the very best horses is going for such a low profile (compared to other races at the meet) heat. I can to an extent understand why they aren’t taking on Douvan at this stage in Altior’s career but I just can’t understand why they haven’t decided to switch the old boy back to hurdles and contest what is looking like a severely sub-standard renewal of the Champion Hurdle. The 1st prize for the Arkle, incidentally, is roughly £85k whereas for the Champion Chase its £200k and the Champion Hurdle its £250k. Just consider this - Buveur D’air (has been so-so over fences this year and was 3rd in last year’s Supreme) will be running for a 1st prize of £250k whereas Altior (has been brilliant over fences this term and won last year’s Supreme comfortably) will be going for £85k! As one of those ‘Chavs’ might say ‘go figure’. Especially when you consider that Altior is not owned by rich individuals. A further irony is that if Altior had been poor over the big ‘uns he would be running in the ‘Champion Hurdle' but because he’s been outstanding he aint! Again ‘go figure’. Meanwhile, if I hear one more person or media outlet go on about how great a race the ‘2018 Champion Chase’ between Douvan and Altior is going to be I shall go mad (or should that be madder). Odds-against it even taking place as (i) given the fragility of the breed its no certainty that 2 individual horses will be fit for 1 contest which is 13 months away, and (ii) Douvan could be stepped up in trip, by then, even if they are both sound!
iii) Trained by Willie Mullins so we will be kept guessing for 12 months and 3 weeks of the year about the target which will change upteen times throughout that jumps season anyway
Altior would slaughter Douvan Borevan, who has been beating a 3 miler for 2 years, will be rerouted to the Ryanair no doubt
The 2 mile chase division, or any jump division for that matter, is not great in terms of relevant pre Cheltenham races, the Tingle Creek, The Dialabet and the Victor Chandler is all there is really. Douvan has run three times since the Arkle, two of them in Grade 2s against 12yo Realt Mor and 11yo Days Hotel, the latter at Cork. A disgrace really considering he is the highest rated chaser in training, surely barring injury he should have run in the exact 3 races mentioned above. What the hell is the superstar of jump racing doing at Cork in his first season in open company? Willie sent his second string to win those races as a short price fav and sent Douvan for a couple of public gallops instead of running both in the race, especially with different owners. It just goes to show that even those races really do not actually matter in jump racing, they dont care about having a Tingle Creek on Douvans resume. Douvan is going to Cheltenham with the feeling that he has achieved nothing since the Arkle and that is not good for the sport, if he had run in the 3 correct races then no one can complain if he had won them just as easily because you can only beat whats in front of you. But I suspect Un De Sceaux and Sire De Grugy would have made for more meaningful races than Realt Mor and Days Hotel. Thats my main issue with the jumps, the horses might come back every year but most of them are only back to run 1 proper race, 2 or 3 if not trained by Mullins. Frankel as a 4yo ran in the Lockinge, The Queen Anne, The Sussex, The Juddmonte and the Champion, there were other equally prestigious races they could have chosen. He effectively achieved more in a season that a jump champion could in 2 or 3.
Really hope they see sense and put him in the Champ Hurdle - would be great for me anyway because I've got him in that and it means Yorkhill can mop up the Arkle for me too
