CYRNAME vs Altior.
The most eagerly-awaited clash of big-hitters since Joshua-Klitschko is set to light up Ascot’s cavernous boxing ring on Saturday afternoon.
Rarely does the hype match the main event – but this time it might.
A Grade 1 winning machine and dual Champion Chase hero takes on a young pretender with the racing world at his hooves.
In the lead-up to the Christy 1965 Chase, neither side has pulled any punches.
Cyrname’s young jockey, Harry Cobden, boasts the kind of bullish confidence of a man whose teenage years are only a few months past.
The 20-year-old whizz kid has ridden in some big races since becoming Ditcheat’s golden boy, but none come bigger than this.
Speaking at Newbury’s members’ day on Tuesday morning, he told Sun Racing: “It’s a massive race.
“Cyrname couldn’t be better. He’s been in great form at home and has schooled like a dream.
“Altior is obviously a class act but our lad is too and I wouldn’t swap him for anything.
“Ascot is his bread and butter, he won by a distance at the top level there last year and absolutely loves it.
“One of the big things on our side is that we’re proven over the trip. Altior has never run over two and a half miles and there’s no doubt we’ll be staying on at the end.
“Hopefully we can get the job done.”
Cobden’s a horseman of supreme confidence but lacks experience in contests of this nature, an asset rival Nico De Boinville can rely on in spades.
The Seven Barrows old hand is a smooth customer, and even at his most unruffled you can tell Altior has a special place in his heart.
De Boinville said: “It’s all systems go and we’re looking forward to it.
“I’m hoping the weather doesn’t change too much and the ground stays just on the right side.
“It’s going to be a great race and with all Paul’s horses you know he’s going to be ready, especially in a race of this importance.
“Whether or not we can get the measure of Cyrname remains to be seen, he’s rated 1lb higher and loves Ascot.
“That said, our lad is in top form and he’s definitely ready to go.”
De Boinville has ridden high-profile superstars such as Coneygree and Sprinter Sacre in the past and knows it requires the coolest of heads to do the business.
He was also at Newbury on Tuesday but kept noticeably far away from Cobden, perhaps mindful of Saturday’s clash.
Paul Nicholls didn’t turn up at all, instead sending Harry Derham to make the 75 mile journey from Shepton Mallet.
Derham certainly knows how to keep his cards close to his chest, confirming only that Cyrname was fit and well before he hopped off to watch Master Tommytucker and Danny Whizzbang wing a few fences.
Nicky Henderson, on the other hand, spent an unenviable amount of time with a spate of camera crews and revealed he’s worried Altior might be too fast for his own good.
He said: “We’re asking him a big question stepping up in trip.
“He doesn’t look like a horse that stays as he has a ridiculous amount of speed.
“However, he’s been in great form and his work has been excellent. It’s going to be a fascinating clash and we’ll find out who the best racehorse is.”
Rain has flooded most of England over the last couple of weeks, but the weather looks fair ahead of Saturday’s epic.
Henderson continued: “I’d like a few dry days and I’d expect Ascot would as well.
“Hopefully his jumping will help him relax as once we get into attack mode he’ll get very aggressive.”
Both Nicholls and Henderson are men for the big occasion, and both are as competitive as they come.
It’s Cyrname vs Altior. You can be sure the gloves are off.
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