Altior still looks like champion

ALTIOR may have had to negotiate an 11th-hour injury scare, but he can still confirm he is the dominant force over two miles in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, the feature race on the second afternoon of the Cheltenham Festival.

The first half of the season did not go to plan and trainer Nicky Henderson was left mortified on Monday morning when it emerged his superstar was lame, all after Altior had seemingly put his issues behind him with an impressive comeback win at Newbury last month.

He shrugged aside Politologue, who had been arguably the best horse over the specialist distance this season, having won the Haldon Gold Cup, Tingle Creek Chase and Desert Orchid Chase.

That race would have blown away the cobwebs for Altior, as it was his first outing since he disposed of Special Tiara in the Celebration Chase at Sandown in April last year. That was just a month after Henry de Bromhead’s charge had won the Champion Chase when hot favourite Douvan failed to fire.

Altior had lifted the Arkle Trophy, for which he was 1-4 favourite, as he followed up his win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival in 2016.

He remains hard to oppose, although the presence of Douvan makes life a little harder and the Willie Mullins-trained runner is the obvious pick if Altior does not make it.

MONALEE should have what it takes to claim a fascinating renewal of the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase.

The De Bromhead inmate looked a top-notch animal at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and has an ideal profile with this race in mind.

NUBE NEGRA may have found Triumph Hurdle favourite Apple’s Shakira too good on this course in December before scoring at Doncaster but he looks the answer to the Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

SELECTIONS

CHELTENHAM: 1.30 Samcro, 2.10 MONALEE (NAP), 2.50 Max Dynamite, 3.30 Altior, 4.10 Cause Of Causes, 4.50 Nube Negra, 5.30 Blackbow.

HUNTINGDON: 1.45 Pirate Look, 2.25 Skint, 3.05 Chandos Belle, 3.45 Chilli Romance, 4.25 Isle Road, 5.05 As I See It, 5.40 Guiding Stars.

DOUBLE: Monalee and Nube Negra.