Altior ruled out of Champion Chase after failing to recover from setback

A frustrated Nicky Henderson remains hopeful his stable superstar Altior will make an appearance at one of the spring festivals despite ruling him out of Wednesday's Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on Tuesday morning.

The ten-year-old, who has won at the last four festivals, suffered a late setback on Sunday when he was lame following a splint problem.

Henderson, who trains the gelding for Patricia Pugh, had been encouraged by Altior's progress on Sunday night into Monday, but was forced to draw stumps.

"We're going to have to call it a day for the Champion Chase with Altior, sadly," the five-time champion trainer said.

"It's very frustrating as he'd made such good progress the night before last until yesterday morning. We were then genuinely optimistic we'd get there, but he hasn't maintained that progress and would not have run yesterday, and is in the same boat today."

Altior, whose festival haul includes a brace of Champion Chases, a Supreme and Arkle, had been set for a showdown with Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi in a race that was shaping up to be the hottest of the meeting.

Henderson added: "We've tried to keep Altior moving to a point, with treadmills and spas, but I think what he really wants is to be left alone all together for four or five days and let it rid itself.

"God willing, with all the troubles that are going on in the world, but there is Aintree, Punchestown and Sandown and we have every intention of getting back for one of those.

"It's very disappointing that this hotly anticipated clash between three great horses isn't going to take place and we're reluctantly lending our crown to someone else, and we wish all involved well."

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