The superstar that is Altior will this season head over three miles compared to his usual two mile campaign this season and his trainer Nicky Henderson has confirmed that his nine year old is ready for a huge season.
Altior has been a horse of a lifetime for his connections during his career being unbeaten over obstacles and currently stands on a 19 race unbeaten run that he will be putting on the line during his toughest season to date.
Henderson's stable star has seen off every horse possible in the two mile division winning at four consecutive Cheltenham festivals and overall having 10 Grade One wins to his name.
However, now stepping up to three miles over fences it is certainly the unknown for Altior and if he is to rule this division and stay unbeaten throughout the season whilst winning the biggest races available he will go down as the greatest ever jumps horse in the history of the sport.
His big aim during the season in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and his trainer is apprehensive but also very excited for what is to come.
(Credit At The Races) Henderson said: “Well what more can you say about him he has done it all and keeps doing it. The question is what we do next and find out if three miles is within his reach.
“If we start off back in the Tingle Creek it wouldn’t necessarily be the best way into the King George. I am not that keen on the Betfair Chase and the best option may well be the Ascot Chase.
“Everything has gone smoothly for Altior and we recauterised his palate this summer which was purely precautionary as he hadn’t had it done for two years. Nico (de Boinville) is adamant he wants another half a mile so let’s find out.”
Someone who is very close to the yards hearts is Might Bite who did not have the best of campaigns during the season but is said to be primed to get back to his best and hopefully go close in the King George and Gold Cup once again.
Henderson added: “It simply didn’t happen for him last season for whatever reason.
“We have done everything we can with him and taken every nut and bolt off and given him a thorough MOT and we just have to hope we can do a Sprinter Sacre with him.
“He has come back from his summer break exceptionally well and we might give him a confidence booster in a hurdle race before going back chasing.”