NICKY Henderson has a formidable team for Cheltenham and there is little doubt that the star among stars is novice chaser Altior, who produced a brilliant performance when making most of the running in the Grade 2 Betfair Exchange Chase, the former Game Spirit, over two miles.

The seven-year-old (30/100) outclassed his three rivals, easily pulling clear from four out under Nico de Boinville to pass the post 13 lengths ahead of Fox Norton, with Dodging Bullets, clearly a light of other days, beating Traffic Fluide for third.

While it may be a shade premature to compare Altior to Sprinter Sacre, who is now retired, he demolished the opposition in much the same way. He will now bid to emulate his brilliant stable companion by following this success with an even more prestigious one in the Arkle.

He is 1/3, or even shorter, for that race, ensuring that all serious players will wait to see him arrive safely at the post before stepping in.

Newbury racegoers were treated to an exhibition round once Altior warmed up but the holding surface placed his participation in doubt until Saturday dawned and Henderson walked the course before racing.

MOMENTS

“I had moments on Friday night when he definitely wasn’t going to run,” he admitted after the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner again made the decision to switch to fences look very shrewd indeed.

However, there is no temptation to take on Willie Mullins’ Douvan in the Champion Chase - not this year, anyway.

“No, I think the one horse you’d avoid at all costs is Douvan,” Henderson continued. “We’re going to stick to the Arkle and I don’t see the need to go for the Champion Chase, though a lovely thought is a possible rumble in the jungle with him in a year’s time.”

Last week’s race was a personal triumph for de Boinville, side-lined after breaking an arm at the Cheltenham November meeting. Quite apart from the retirement of Sprinter Sacre and ongoing problems with Coneygree, there was the worrying sight of Noel Fehily coming in for the ride on Altior and doing all that was asked of him.

Indeed, there was speculation that the Irishman would keep the ride next month but Henderson is a loyal man and assured de Boinville he would be in the saddle for the Game Spirit.

“For the guv’nor to let me ride a horse like that, he’s just incredible,” the jockey said. “I was having fun out there. Altior fills you with confidence as a jockey and you can ride him like that.”

At this stage the Arkle is very much a two-horse book, with Mullins’ Yorkhill generally 4/1 or 9/2 and everything else available at 14/1 or bigger.