Altior has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival, trainer Nicky Henderson has confirmed. The two-time champion chaser was aiming to become the first horse since Badsworth Boy to win three Queen Mother Champion Chase titles.
But he was reported lame on Sunday, just three days before Wednesday's big race, and trainer Henderson confirmed before action got underway at the festival on Tuesday morning that he had been ruled out.
Henderson told the Racing Post: "Sadly we're going to have to call it a day for the Champion Chase. "It's frustrating as he'd made such good progress until yesterday morning. "We were optimistic we'd get there but he hasn't maintained that progress." Speaking after discovering Altior lame on Sunday morning,
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