Trainer Nicky Henderson was unconcerned by Altior’s tendency to jump left in Saturday’s comfortable Ascot success.
The nine-year-old made it 19 successive wins over obstacles with a seven-length success in the Grade 1 Matchbook Clarence House Chase.
The son of High Chaparral made all to win and was barely troubled, but it was noted that he did veer away from the straight at a couple of fences.
Jockey Nico De Boinville did not seem bothered and eased his mount down towards the line as Fox Norton took second and Diego Du Charmil came a distant third.
Henderson feels there was nothing untoward about his charge’s jumping and is looking forward to seeing him at the Festival in March.
“It’s the sort of thing you see horses do around here,” he said. “He doesn’t need to go left, but we know he’s so much better at Cheltenham.
“He had to go and do his own thing, and we knew he’d have to make the running. If something came to him I think he’d have gone again – he was idling a bit.
“Yes, he did drift left. But it’s not his natural thing – he’ll be going left (handed at Cheltenham) next time.”
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