Altior set for King George VI Chase

Trainer Nicky Henderson has revealed Altior will be aimed at the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day after taking his unbeaten record over fences to 19 on Saturday (Altior 3/1 FAV – King George VI Chase).

Having matched Big Buck’s 18 wins when landing the Queen Mother Champion Chase for a second time at Cheltenham last month, Altior lined up at Sandown Park on Saturday looking to break that record in the Celebration Chase.

The nine-year-old produced a brilliant performance to win the coveted race for the third successive time, finishing two-and-a-half lengths of Alan King’s Sceau Royal.

Altior has now racked up a record 19 consecutive victories over fences and Henderson has revealed his charge will be stepped up in trip, confirming the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park next season is the obvious choice.

“He told us one thing today – go further, so that is what we will do. There is not much point doing it for the Ryanair, so you have got to go King George,” he said, as reported by Sporting Life.

“How we set it up, I’m not quite sure, but we’ve got a long summer to think about that. Nico said he had to keep the revs up the whole way there. He was firing along and going a good old rattle.

“His jumping keeps him going like that. He just keeps galloping.”

Kemboy is currently second in the King George VI Chase betting at 5/1 while defending champion Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname are both priced at 6/1.

Lostintranslation, Topofthegame and Waiting Patiently follow next at odds of 12/1 while Might Bite and La Bague Au Roi are both 14/1 chances.