Douvan or Altior - The Growing Question
There is always a debate when two stars of a sport come locked together, it's only common. Nadal or Federer, Speith or McIlroy, Messi or Ronaldo? All these comparisons cause debate and National Hunt Racing is providing another debate to boot, Willie Mullins trained Douvan or Nicky Henderson trained Altior. These two Two Mile Heavyweights have never faced each other yet the media is billing this up as one of the biggest potential clashes of the century. The form of these horses are second to none, Douvan has a flawless record since joining Willie Mullins and has already notched up a Supreme Novice Hurdle and an Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival and will look to go again this year to claim the Champion Chase, which he's odds on to do so. However, Altior is the English novice with a reputation rivaling that of former stable mate, the great Sprinter Sacre. Altior took out one of the strongest renewals of the Supreme Novice Hurdle last year and is odds on to go in again in this year's Arkle. Both horses have looked immortal in there respective careers and therefore a tie between the two of them next year is a mouth watering prospect. Until they actually face each other any arguments are really only hypothetical and is all an opinion based game. As is the usual with such debates, the English are siding with Altior and the Irish with Douvan. Personally, I side with Douvan due to his sheer amount of gears and his slick jumping style, obviously also aided by the fact that Sizing John is franking the form considerably. Until there is an actual clash between the heavyweights, we don’t know who is the superior horse but like the aforementioned rivalries, in some ways you’ve got to appreciate two fine individuals rather than compare them.