THERE is no telling what heights Nicky Henderson’s Altior may scale but he rounded off the season in perfect style, taking the Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase by an easy eight lengths from the admirable Special Tiara, with San Benedeto and Vaniteux finishing third and fourth of the quartet, neither disgraced in terms of distance.

Betting at 30/100 in any steeplechase may be foolhardy, though Altior’s followers had little cause for concern. Nico de Boinville tracked guaranteed leader Special Tiara to two out, then quickly went past the Champion Chase winner to score decisively.

If anything, the favourite was more impressive here than in the Arkle and was certainly a shade more fluent with his jumping.

“The dream is still very much alive and it’s strange to find another one like this so soon after Sprinter Sacre,” Henderson mused.

“We know where we’ve got to go and he will try to follow in Sprinter’s shoes. He’d stay further but I don’t see any point in that if you don’t need him to.

“He’ll go for the Tingle Creek, then Ascot and the Champion Chase at Cheltenham; those are the objectives.”

L’AMI SURGES TO VICTORY

Henderson had looked like claiming his fourth champion trainer’s title for several weeks and Paul Nicholls knew that a minor miracle would be required to deny him.

In a way, the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle mirrored their respective campaigns, Henderson saddling first and third in L’Ami Serge and Volnay De Thaix, with Nicholls’ Ptit Zig dividing the pair.

L’Ami Serge, 7/2, has been frustrating but won well here, readily taking over for Daryl Jacob and bounding clear before allowing Ptit Zig to close to within a length and a half close home.

The 5/2 favourite The New One owes his connections nothing but could manage only fourth on this occasion.