Racing Post Arkle report: Altior lands the Arkle
Altior won the Racing Post Arkle Trophy. Check out our report, reaction and free video replay.
2.10 Cheltenham result
1st Altior (1/4 favourite)
2nd Cloudy Dream (12/1)
3rd Ordinary World (25/1)
Race Report
Altior stayed on powerfully to hand Nicky Henderson his sixth win in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy.
Given a no-nonsense ride by Nico De Boinville, last year's Sky Bet Supreme winner was always tracking Charbel and had just been asked to go and reel in the leader when Kim Bailey's horse fell two from home.
Altior was near faultless in his jumping, winging the last as Cloudy Dream (12/1) tried in vain to lay down a challenge, and at the line the 1/4 favourite had six lengths in hand.
Charbel still appeared to have plenty to offer when coming down, his fall allowing Ordinary World (25/1) to take third having been handy throughout.
Sky Bet make Altior 5/2 for the 2018 Champion Chase, with Charbel 10/1 and Cloudy Dream quoted at 25s.
Reaction
Nicky Henderson: "They went a good gallop and Charbel was still galloping away, but we jumped and travelled well. We knew he'd come up the hill. He's very, very good and there's a lot to look forward to.
"That was the one that had to win. It takes an awful lot of pressure off us. I feel sorry for Kim's (Bailey) horse (Charbel). I hope he's OK because he's run a great race. They were only upsides at the time.
"He's done it well and jumped very well from what I could see. On we go. This is only first season over fences. Hopefully Douvan will do his job (in the Champion Chase) and then maybe we will all meet up again next year.
"Altior has done nothing wrong and jumped really well."
Nico De Boinville: "You are aware of the expectation, so you just try to do it justice. They went a good gallop and it took me a while to get the gears, but after the last he has taken off. He travels and jumps, wherever you put him in the race."
David Bass (jockey Charbel): "I'm fine. It was a very tricky fence and it claims quite a few of us. He didn't jump it badly, he just knuckled on landing."
Kim Bailey (trainer Charbel): "David hadn't even asked him a question. That's life. He jumped the fence fine and just knuckled over, but he's fine. It's a difficult fence."
Malcolm Jefferson (trainer Cloudy Dream): "I didn't expect any better than that so I've got to be delighted. I thought he ran a blinder against a very good horse.
"We knew there'd be pace on and there was but I left all the plans up to Brian, he knew what to do. Next year we'll up him in trip but he's got plenty of pace so I've been happy to run him over two miles for now.
"There's a nice race at Ayr for him but I'd imagine he'll go to Liverpool as Trevor (Hemmings, owners) loves his runners there. There's the two-and-a-half-mile race (Manifesto Novices' Chase) there."
Henry de Bromhead (trainer Ordinary World): "I was delighted with him but disappointed with Some Plan (sixth), who didn't jump well enough. Three Stars (a faller) is sore, the vet told me.
"Ordinary World jumped great and is a real two-miler, he probably wanted the ground a bit quicker if anything. I'd imagine he'll go to Punchestown."