Fat Jockey Farewells (NH)

[PresentingPercy]

One of the greats no doubt. That Supreme he won had an incredible field in hindsight. I remember being in the stand overlooking the final flight, I had been told that MIn was the second coming of Douvan so I had everything on him to win, only for Altior to power up the hill and demolish the rest of the field. Which he would replicate many a time after.

Funnily enough my abiding memory of him is from a race in Sandown (I think) where the camera in the stand took a shot of him jumping outside the wings at one of the railway fences down the back. I just found that video on twitter and have included a link to it below. It summed up his athleticism and the awe he put in the racing public over the years we were lucky to witness him.

https://twitter.com/TheRacingJosh/status/1437432595218935812?s=20

[BigChaang]

I think Altior's Supreme Novice hurdle win for me as well , similar to Istabraq , had a few quid on ...
..................... Been a Star , and deserves a First Class Retirement. ,..

[Kevloaf]

The Min versus Altior debate in their chase careers was fantastic as well, I remember that on here so fondly.
Shame they didn't clash in Altior's Arkle really.

I think my favourite Altior memory was him powering up the hill after he looked beaten in the QMCC. Nico had to switch him and he just seemed to find another gear and got it done.

If it wasn't for Sprinter Sacre preceeding him, I think his 19 race unbeaten streak would've been even more high profile.

[archie]

Probably in everyone's top 10 of NH horses ever and rightly so, now is the right time to go

I think that depends on how long you've been following NH racing.

He was a champion and a fine horse but his 179+ doesn't even get him in the Timeform top 20 chasers (nor mine) but I'm very pleased to see him get out in one piece.

https://www.timeform.com/horse-racin...rses/timeforms

[robith]

What a legend. Favourite Altior memory anyone?

The 2018 Champion Chase. I spent most of the first part of the race grabbing my wife's arm and excitedly saying "he's back!" about Douvan (albeit quietly - felt like everyone was on Altior). But at the bottom of the hill...well......I've no fucking idea how he won that. Unreal grit and determination

[Joleg]

I think that depends on how long you've been following NH racing.

He was a champion and a fine horse but his 179+ doesn't even get him in the Timeform top 20 chasers (nor mine) but I'm very pleased to see him get out in one piece.

https://www.timeform.com/horse-racin...rses/timeforms

Good point, long enough to remember a lot of those in the Timeform, however with obvious exceptions (Sprinter, Dessie, Dawn Run etc) i don't recall too many horses being cheered on (or feared) by so many

[Istabraq]

his 179+ doesn't even get him in the Timeform top 20 chasers

For me the fact Cyrname, a horse with just a single Grade 1 win to his name, was rated higher is one of the biggest ratings travesties I can recall.

[opatcho]

Started following horse racing around 2012, Big Bucks was quickly added to me ‘All time favourites’ following his World hurdle win

That list was quickly updated with Sprinter Sacre, and then Faugheen followed

Alitor was the fourth to go of my list. His supreme win, the field he beat, was just epic. He’s also been a rock from a betting perspective, coming home to end two of my biggest acca’s when he took the Arkle and QMCC

It’s a shame he never looked the same after that day at ascot, never had a bet that day but that defect hurt. Glad they retired him, the old boy wasn’t right since that race

Altiors been a pleasure to watch and follow! Happy retirement fella

So, my all time favourite list is full of horses that have retired, however I think Bob O’linger could be one that list soon

[opatcho]

Altior loved that hill!

[Dandrew99]

Altior winning that Supreme was probably one of the first things that made my interest in the sport go to the next level. Discussing at length who was going to come out on top (I was in the Min camp at the time) and a close mate very bullish on Altior.

Loved watching him look beaten in pretty much every race he ran, then like a flick of a switch he was suddenly going miles better than anything else. Definitely one of my favourite horses of all time!

The main memory that sticks out is Sandown though, on the rail in the middle of the storm where 99% of people with any sense had gone inside, doing what Altior does best. Then getting the car stuck in the mud, safe to say the race was more enjoyable than the journey home (still worth it)

[The King Pimm]

I find it hard to separate Altior and Coneygree as my favourite horses of all time but if I had to decide then I’d go for Altior. He had everything, he had gears, a turbo, a street fighter attitude and proper class, he is a genuine National Hunt legend.

My favourite memory was his win at Kempton on Boxing Day 2015. I remember working days at the fire station and gutted I wasn’t out on the piss with my mates. I wasn’t punting much at the time but I rang my Uncle John around midday to see if he would be out still after I finished my shift and he told me don’t worry about that just get what I could afford to lose on a horse called Altior because Nicky Henderson is the Father Christmas of horse racing and will gift you a belated present around 1pm if you do. I was fortunate we had a dodgy stick at the time in work so able to watch the race and I was blown away. He won will call complete ease and coolness.

The next I bet him was the Supreme and again he took it to another level. As amazing as he was over fences it was those two hurdle races that I still remember mainly because the victories were so emphatic and I had won a real nice pot thanks to him. I’ve backed Altior every time he has run and he’s always won me much more than I’ve lost. A brilliant horse, I really hope they look after him and he enjoys his post racing life and retirement.

[The King Pimm]

His Supreme win for me, one of those horses you bore people with for months about how good they will be and what they'll win, was a wonderful combination of his fulfilling that promise on the biggest stage and me winning a bundle, magnificent day.
He's been the subject of much crabbing in recent seasons but he should be remembered for his 19 consecutive wins in a 4 year unbeaten stretch, almost unprecedented...

As frustrating the loss to Cyname was I was glad Henderson did it because it would have haunted him had he not and he would have been forever hassled if he had ducked it. I think that race was the beginning of the end for Altior but not necessarily the race itself but just the time in his career. I’m glad I saw him coming down the other side of the hill as it has made me appreciate him more during his prime and knowing he was at his best over 2 mile. I’m not sure he was the greatest 2 miler but he was my favourite

[Native River]

Only really got into racing from 2017 onwards so missed Altior's Supreme but being live to witness the Tingle Creek in 2018 with him and Un De Sceaux was brilliant and is a racing memory of mine that will long stick with me, just those 2 flying over every fence in this battle and Altior just turning up the gears and leaving UDS behind on soft ground.

[Stormez]

Altior was a great horse, no doubt, and his first Champion Chase was as impressive performance as I’ve seen in person. To put 7 lengths into a horse of Min’s class after jumping the last together was spectacular.

His supreme win must be up there with the best novice performances in history too when you look back at the field.

However he’s a horse I’ve never taken to in the way I did with other greats. Not totally sure why but it’s probably largely due to not being a fan of the way Nicky campaigned him over the last couple of seasons.

Could never get mind head round it, he never used as much cotton wool on Sprinter Sacre who was even better with many more physical problems.

Anyway, hope he gets the retirement he deserves with Mick Fitz, a true modern great.

[robith]

And as is traditional, Min closely follows Altior into the paddock