Altior seals trainers’ title for Henderson

Bowen and ridden by his son, Sean, made most of the running as he captured the last big steeplechase of the season.

Henllan Harri was 4lb wrong at the weights but while the pack closed in up the final hill, he got the verdict by a head from Vyta Du Roc (6-1), with Colin Tizzard’s Theatre Guide (20-1) a neck away third.

The winning rider said: “He held on well and battled on very hard. He did what he does best. He stuck on well all the way and stayed every yard.”

Richard Johnson was given a guard of honour by his weighing-room colleagues after sealing his second Stobart Jump Jockeys’ Championship last weekend, and went on to add his 235th winner when Menorah signed off his career in spectacular style with victory in the bet365 Oaksey Chase for the fourth year in a row.

Philip Hobbs announced the retirement of the 12-year-old, whose 15 victories included the 2010 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, after the race.

At Punchestown, Willie Mullins was crowned Ireland’s champion trainer for a 10th time after Bapaume won the AES Champion 4YO Hurdle, the country’s final Grade 1 of the season.

Meanwhile, Thunder Snow has been given the go-ahead to run for Godolphin in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. NICKY Henderson was crowned champion jumps trainer for a fourth time when Altior won the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown, on an afternoon when Henllan Harri caused a 40-1 upset in the bet365 Gold Cup.

Henderson had been involved in an epic battle with old adversary Paul Nicholls, but claimed victory when Arkle hero and 30-100 favourite Altior beat Special Tiara by eight lengths in the hands of Nico de Boinville.

“What a great horse to do it with. He’s very special,” said Henderson, 66, for whom next year will be the 40th that he has held a licence. “I don’t think I’m coming to the end of it, I will keep going as long as everybody wants me to.

It has not all been plain sailing for the master of Seven Barrows this season. A real low point came in November, when, on the same day he had to call time on the fabulous career of champion two-miler Sprinter Sacre, the brilliant but fragile Simonsig was killed in action at Cheltenham.

Henderson was left reeling, but, in typical fashion, was able to call upon the next generation of superstars in Altior, Buveur D’Air and Might Bite.

Henllan Harri held on to win the bet365 Gold Cup ahead of Henderson’s Vyta Du Roc in a thrilling finish. The nine-year-old, trained by Peter