Altior 'unlikely' to go for Clarence House Chase at Ascot

Altior is unlikely to line up in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday week.Nicky Henderson has entered the exciting novice in the Grade One contest and he is second-favourite with most bookmakers behind Tingle Creek winner Un De Sceaux.But w hile Henderson could still run him outside novice company before the Cheltenham Festival, it is now more likely to be in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in February. "I wouldn't have thought he'd run at Ascot," said Henderson."It's only a fortnight away and we're due plenty of cold weather."It hasn't really been discussed as yet, but at this stage I'd have to say it's unlikely."Another top-class novice housed at Seven Barrows is Might Bite and he showed when falling in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton with the race at his mercy, that three miles is undoubtedly his trip.It was a heavy fall to boot, so as well as missing out on a Grade One, connections are now having to be patient."He's essentially all right, but he was a bit stiff and sore," said Henderson."Like a lot of ours at the moment, they are just having a week to 10 days on the easy list. There are no races for them so we'll just take a breather."