The Ascot clash felt like the kind of race we are fortunate to see once in a decade, not twice in the space of eight weeksAs countless football managers have discovered over the years, the hardest thing of all to manage is the fans’ expectations. Amid the euphoria after Saturday’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot, though, a race that promised much and delivered even more, it was only natural that thoughts would soon turn towards Shishkin vs Energumene II: the Rematch. If both horses turn up and if both run to form, the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on 16 March seems certain to be the race of the Festival.But those are, of course, two very big “ifs” right...
Nicky Henderson opts not to go to Cheltenham Chaser withdrawn from Tingle Creek at short notice Altior’s seasonal debut has been delayed until the second day of Kempton’s Christmas meeting on 27 December after Nicky Henderson said on Monday the dual Champion Chase winner will not be entered for the re-arranged Peterborough Chase following its switch to the first day of Cheltenham’s December meeting on Friday.Altior was unexpectedly scratched from last Saturday’s Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown the night before the race, with Henderson citing concerns about the going as the reason for his sudden change of heart. The trainer suggested at the time that he might be tempted to run Altior if the Peterborough Chase were rescheduled for Taunton...
Brewin’upastorm may be able to take advantage of a suddenly winnable Grade One against unconvincing rivalsThe puzzling, disconcerting decision to take Altior out of Saturday’s Tingle Creek leaves us with a race in which none of the five runners is entirely convincing. Politologue is a short price for a horse with one win from his last seven starts and might easily need this first run back.A chance is taken at double-figure odds on Brewin’upastorm (2.25), a classy hurdler who always looked likely to make a better chaser. Inexperience caught him out in the Arkle but he faces half as many rivals here and his stable is going a lot better than when he made a disappointing reappearance. Related: Talking Horses:...
Jockey will be aboard the reigning champion hurdler, who makes her comeback at Newcastle a week on SaturdayAidan Coleman has been named as the new regular rider for Epatante, following the retirement in summer of Barry Geraghty, who partnered her to wins in the Christmas Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle last season. “It’s fantastic to get the ride back,” said Coleman, who scored on her at Newbury last November on a day when Geraghty had gone to Newcastle for the Fighting Fifth. Related: Talking Horses: no leniency for Tiger Roll despite Cheltenham flop You can never get enough of watching stars like Altior (dark jacket, @NdeBoinville) and Epatante (@JerrymcGrath) go through their paces so here is their workout at @NewburyRacing...
‘Nothing is set in stone’ says Nicky Henderson as anticipation builds over a possible meeting between the pair in NovemberIt seems the first big clash of the new jumps season is back on ice, as the team behind Altior are not yet ready to commit him to taking on Cyrname at Ascot in two months’ time. Cyrname is now confirmed for the 1965 Chase on 23 November, but apparently it was premature for the Racing Post to headline that news on Monday with: “It’s on – the clash we all want to see.”“Nothing is set in stone,” said Nicky Henderson, Altior’s trainer, in response to that headline. “I have a huge amount of respect for Cyrname and I’m not afraid...