THIS Newbury card had something for everyone, the small fields in the chases mattering little as Altior and Native River set out their stall for the Cheltenhm Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s Altior is now odds-on for the Queen Mother Champion Chase after accounting for Politologue in the three-runner Grade 2 Betfair Exchange Chase.

His rival led him to the last but Nico de Boinville calmly moved Altior (one to three) alongside before pushing him clear to score by four lengths. Valdez was not disgraced in third.

WIND OPERATION

Absent since a high-profile wind operation, Altior might have found this a tough assignment against the Tingle Creek winner and Henderson was taking nothing for granted. However, the winner was always doing no more than was strictly necessary.

“If you were dreaming about what you wanted to happen, that would just about have been it,” the champion trainer said.

“He’s just got class. His work is so easy. We haven’t got much that can go with him. He’s done some good bits of work with other horses but he’s just better than them.”

Altior heads the Champion Chase market on 8/11 with Willie Mullins’ Min (100/30) the only other contender in single figures in most lists. Politologue has eased to a general 10/1.

One of the most interesting markets at the festival will concern how many winners Henderson might saddle. He further underlined his powerful hand in the novice hurdle division when Whatswrongwithyou and de Boinville sauntered home at even-money in the opener.