Owned by Mrs. Patricia Pugh and trained by Nicky Henderson, in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire, Altior is the second-highest rated steeplechaser in training, according to Timeform. Indeed, the ten-year-old son of Montjeu has won 15 of his 16 starts over fences, including ten at the highest, Grade One level. He recorded back-to-back victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018 and 2019 and, in 2020, was aiming to become the first horse since Badwsworth Boy, in 1985, to win the two-mile steeplechasing championship three times. However, having pulled up lame with a hitherto dormant, or inactive, splint – an injury to one of the small, slender splint bones between the knee and the fetlock – on the Sunday before the race, he was withdrawn.
In a season that Henderson later described as ‘a disaster’, Altior suffered his first and, so far, only defeat over fences, when stepped up to 2 miles and 5 furlongs for the first time, in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot, on his reappearance in November. Henderson later admitted, ‘He shouldn’t have run at Ascot in the first place’, but Altior could make no impression on his only serious rival, Cyrname, in the closing stages and eventually finished second, beaten 2¼ lengths. Nevertheless, Henderson recently reported Altior in ‘great form’ and announced that he will be reverting to a ‘tried and tested route’ for his 2020/21 campaign, starting with the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park, scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2020. Altior is second favourite for the 2021 Queen Mother Champion Chase, behind only Chacun Pour Soi, and, if he makes it to the Festival this time ’round, he will be seeking his fifth victory, having previously won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2016 and the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2017.
Nijinsky has the distinction of being the last horse to win the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St. Leger, a.k.a. the ‘English Triple Crown’, and was described by Lester Piggott as ‘the most brilliant horse I’ve ever ridden.’ Owned by American businessman Charles Englehard Jr. and named after celebrated ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky at the behest of his wife, Jane, Nijinsky was trained by Vincent O’Brien at Ballydoyle, County Tipperary.
Having progressed through his juvenile campaign unbeaten in five starts, including the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, Nijinsky was named champion two-year-old colt in England and Ireland in 1969. The following season, the son of Northern Dancer reappeared in the Group Three Gladness Stakes at the Curragh, holding off the more experienced four-year-old Deep Run to extend his winning sequence to six. He was subsequently sent off 4/7 favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and only had to be shaken up to beat Yellow God by two and half lengths.
Despite suffering a severe bout of colic a day or two before the Derby, and the presence of the highly-rated French challenger, Gyr, in opposition, Nijinksy started 11/8 favourite. Once again, the market support proved justified; on fast going, Gyr, ridden by Australian Bill Williamson, set sail for home inside the final quarter of a mile but, once shaken up and shown the whip by Piggott, Njinsky redaily quickened past his main market rival to win by two and a half lengths, with plenty in hand.
Between the Derby, in June, and the St. Leger, the following September, Nijinsky won the Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes but, in August, 1970, contracted ringworm, which made a regular training regime impossible. Nevertheless, after a last-minute change of heart by his owner, Nijinsky was sent off 2/7 favourite for the final Classic and won comfortably, albeit not by far, to become the first horse since Bahram, in 1935, to win the English Triple Crown.