Altior returns in great form

ALTIOR looked like ★

he had never been away at Newbury as he cruised to victory in the Betfair Exchange (Game Spirit) Chase.

After a 287-day

★

absence, the eight-year-old produced a classy performance.

Politologue won the ★

Tingle Creek at Sandown in Altior’s absence and was three wins from three for the season prior to this.

But he simply had ★

no answer as Nicky Henderson’s charge took over on the bridle after the last.

The four-length

★

success was a display of pure dominance and Altior simply looks the stand-out performer in the two-mile chase division.

Sky Bet are now

★

quoting him as 4-6 favourite from evens for a repeat success in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase next month.

Winning tainer Nicky ★

Henderson said: “It was always going to be tactical and I didn’t know who was going to do what but as it turned out, that was exactly what we wanted.

“He has got so much ★

pace this horse. I was fairly confident if he could get to the second-last upsides on the bridle, it would be hard for a horse to go with him from there.”