FOR the last four seasons of National Hunt racing we had our proverbial rock to pin hopes on. Cue the old lines, the certainties – death, taxes and Altior would pull it out of the fire. Whatever came into his path, head down, final surge, for a 19-race winning sequence none could touch him.

But he did not end the 2018/2019 season as the highest rated chaser over the shorter distances as Cyrname was rated a pound ahead of him. Yet the prospect of him moving up in distance to tackle the King George was something to look forward to.