QUEEN Mother Champion Chase hero Special Tiara locks horns with crack novice Altior in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Winner of this race in 2015, when he defeated none other than Sprinter Sacre, Henry de Bromhead’s star is a sight to behold over the Railway Fences.

And having twice been placed in the Champion Chase, few begrudged Special Tiara his day in the limelight at Cheltenham last month.

De Bromhead said: “He loves it at Sandown. He’s had a fantastic season, obviously, by winning the Champion Chase and now we are trying to get the icing on the cake.

“Obviously Altior is there and he looks very good but our lad deserves to be there and we think he has every chance.

“He put up a superb performance at Cheltenham and beat Fox Norton.We’ve all seen what he has gone on to do at Aintree and Punchestown but our lad did everything right on the day.

“It’s a real good race despite the small field with San Benedeto and Vaniteux too.

“He’s been good since Cheltenham and he seems in good form.”

Victory for Altior would seal an unbeaten season over fences for the novice and almost certainly confirm the UK trainers’ championship for Nicky Henderson.

Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last March, he has looked imperious since thoughts turned to chasing, although some were left wanting more than he delivered in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.

“Altior has been the star and we always knew he was very good. Whatever happens, we know he is very high class,” said Henderson.

“If he wins it will probably seal the championship but it would also be great satisfaction to see a novice go through the season unbeaten. If he can do that then he will be getting a step closer to being in Sprinter Sacre’s shoes, but he still has some way to go yet.”

Henderson also runs Vaniteux, winner of a handicap at Ayr last week, while title rival Paul Nicholls pitches San Benedeto in against the big boys, having been a fortunate winner of a Grade 1 at Aintree.

Nicholls said: “He’s done well. He’s won six races this season with a Grade 1. He’s got it all to do, but you never know. Hopefully he’ll be there to pick some crumbs up, with a bit of luck. He deserves to be in that race anyway.”