Altior in essential situation after colic surgical procedure
Legendary former Nationwide Hunt racehorse Altior is “critically sick” with colic, in keeping with a weblog put up launched by his former coach Nicky Henderson.
The 2-time Champion Chase winner, who retired in 2021, has undergone two operations and continues to be in essential situation.
A number of champion jumps coach Nicky stated: “Sadly we have now an issue with Altior after it was found on Saturday morning [21 January] that he was affected by a extreme bout of colic.
“As a consequence, he was taken to the equine hospital very, in a short time the place he needed to endure a four-hour operation to take away a substantial quantity of his gut. It was an enormous operation and never simple.”
Nicky stated that the next morning, Altior was “nonetheless extraordinarily uncomfortable so needed to endure additional surgical procedure as a consequence of issues”.
“There’s some fairly constructive information in the truth that this morning he’s secure, however nonetheless essential,” he stated in the present day (25 January). “Pat Pugh [Altior’s owner] has been to see him on a number of events and he’s presently in extraordinarily good fingers with the entire group at Donnington Valley.”
Altior ridden by Nico de Boinville clears the final fence earlier than happening to win The Racing Put up Arkle Problem Trophy Novices’ Steeple Chase Race run throughout Champion Day of the 2017 Cheltenham Pageant at Cheltenham Racecourse
Altior, 13, was retired in September 2021, after a profession headlined by his world record-setting 19 consecutive victories and brace of Champion Chase titles.
Nicky Henderson stated on the time of Altior’s retirement that the horse’s homeowners Christopher and Patricia Pugh wished to retire the 11-year-old “whereas nonetheless at his peak, match, sound and wholesome and prepared for a brand new profession”.
In all, Altior scored 21 victories from his 26 begins, together with 10 Grade Ones and profitable £1,320,795. He has been spending his retirement with former high Nationwide Hunt jockey Mick Fitzgerald and his spouse Chloe.
“It’s a horrible disgrace as a result of he deserves an extended and completely satisfied retirement and was actually having fun with life at Chloe and Mick Fitzgerald’s,” stated Nicky. “It’s been extraordinarily powerful, and no horse deserves this, particularly pricey Altior who gave a lot pleasure to everybody on the observe.
“We’re all praying and doing every part humanely attainable to make sure he can pull by means of and proceed residing life as he ought to.”
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