FESTIVAL HONOURS: 58 winners (record six Champion Hurdles) BEST YEAR: 2015 (five winners) BEST BET: Altior (tomorrow, Queen Mother Chase)

two years when we did not have Sprinter Sacre (regarded as the best he trained) around, but Altior has come along. He has got to win his championship races and take it to the next level before we can make comparisons.

“Might Bite has most to prove. He has yet to show he has the stamina for the Gold Cup and we have to make sure there are no quirks.

“I’m devising a plan to prevent him diving off the course like he did when he won last year’s RSA Chase, but I’m not telling you what it is.

“Taking on these guys – of course there’s pressure, but I would rather have it that way. No pressure means you don’t have any good horses.”

Henderson may be seen as the privileged Old Etonion, but Elliott is the trainer who has dispelled the belief that you need to come from that sort of background to succeed. The 40-year-old son of a panel beater