Min the value call in Champion Chase

FINANCIAL gains will be thin on the ground for the successful prediction of Altior’s recordequalling 18th consecutive victory as the brilliant two-miler bids to retain his Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase title.

There will not be many prizes for originality either – so given the low-risk and low-reward equation in the highlight of Cheltenham’s Wednesday card, it may just be worth daring to think the unthinkable.

A yawning seven lengths separated Altior from his nearest pursuer Min a year ago, once Nicky Henderson’s superstar had engaged his famous overdrive and swept decisively clear.

Twelve months on, there has been no discernible dimming of Altior’s shining light - and at the age of just nine, there is no rational reason why there should be.

In fact, with three routinely dominant victories under his belt so far this season – two Grade Ones and a Grade Two – Altior’s path to the Festival has been notably smoother than in his graduation year, when a wind operation delayed his return until almost mid-February and limited him to that solitary pre-Cheltenham outing.

That points perhaps to an even better Altior then this time round – a possibility entirely reflected in his likely long odds-on starting price, however, and good reason therefore to consider the alternatives.

If Altior has every right to improve on his 2018 performance, then the same is true – only more so – of the year younger Min.

After his Cheltenham exertions last March, a month later Willie Mullins’ contender could not cope with Politologue over two and a half miles at Aintree or his own two stablemates Un De Sceaux and Douvan in Punchestown’s Champion Chase.

But on his return this season, with the minimum fuss, Min has given weight and a beating to Shattered Love over two and a half at Punchestown – then followed up over an extended two at Leopardstown last month.

Altior could not have achieved either victory any more easily - and although it will be a stretch for some to entertain the idea that those seven lengths between them can be overturned, at the odds it is worth an interest.

Irrespective of that outcome, Ireland may well be set for another profitable day – with Delta Work a very worthy favourite in the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase.

The home defence of the three-mile novice-chase championship is stout – but in Delta Work, it is highly likely to meet its match.

Whereas rivals have had various complicating issues on the road to Cheltenham, Gordon Elliott’s champion in waiting has had a seamless campaign of three straight and emphatic victories – the last two at Grade One level.