ALT ON HIS OWN

Superstar Altior to lay down Festival marker

ALTIOR can warm up for next month’s Cheltenham Festival by dispatching two opponents in the Betfair Exchange Chase (3.00) at Newbury.

Things haven’t been plain sailing for Nicky Henderson’s Champion Chase favourite since he signed off an unbeaten novice campaign over fences by lifting Cheltenham’s Arkle and the Celebration Chase at Sandown last spring.

Altior has undergone a wind op since being forced to miss Sandown’s Tingle Creek in December, but the trainer said: “He is in tremendous form.

“There have been a lot of big prizes that have gone by while we’ve been out of action, but there are a lot of big prizes still to come.”

Politologue, a blue-collar chaser who rolled up his sleeves to beat Fox Norton in the Tingle Creek, will be no pushover but Altior – unbeaten over hurdles and fences – is fancied to have the edge.

Another Cheltenham hope, last year’s Gold Cup third

is also fancied for a winning comeback against two rivals in the Betfair Denman Chase (2.25).

Native River landed this contest en route to the 2017 Festival – he also won the Hennessy Gold Cup and the Welsh Grand National – and conditions here look ideal for Colin Tizzard’s eight-year-old.

Barters Hill brings to an end his 456-day absence from the racecourse in the Betfair Cash Out Handicap Hurdle (1.50), but my preference is for

Successful over two miles, five furlongs at Towcester in November, Kevin Dowling’s mount was keeping on when coming down at the last over the same trip at Wincanton on Boxing Day, and a first attempt at three miles could be what he needs.

At Warwick,

should justify his place at the head of the market for the Betway Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (2.40).

The Harry Whittingtontrained five-year-old has impressed in capturing two handicap chases at Newbury either side of New Year and looks ripe for the step up in class.

He couldn’t cope with Un De Sceaux in the top-level Clarence House Chase at Ascot three weeks ago, but

has less on his plate despite carrying top weight in the Warwick Castle Handicap Chase (3.15).

The Listed olbg.com Mares’ Hurdle (2.05) looks best left to

narrowly denied in a similar event at Sandown last month.