AILTOR IN TO SEAL HENDO’S CROWN

NICKY HENDERSON declared “I’m as up for it as I’ve ever been” as the 66-year-old put the seal on a fourth trainers’ championship by saddling the peerless Altior to victory in Sandown Park’s Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase.

Henderson, who took the crown in 1985-86, 1986-87 and 2012-13, went into the Jumps Finale with a cushion of £168,846 over rival Paul Nicholls.

And any hope Nicholls harboured of defending the title he has won 10 times was snuffed out as novice Altior disdainfully brushed aside Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Special Tiara to capture the £71,187 first prize by eight lengths – and remain unbeaten over obstacles.

Henderson, who retired two-time Champion Chaser Sprinter Sacre in November – he lost dual Cheltenham Festival scorer Simonsig to fatal injury at Cheltenham the same afternoon – confessed: “When we lost Sprinter and Simonsig I thought, ‘You can’t do without two arrows like that.’ But it’s amazing how other people step up to the plate.

“I’m as up for it as I’ve ever been and this fellow is following in the old boy Sprinter’s shoes.

“He hasn’t quite taken us down the emotional roads yet, but I’m sure that’s ahead of us.”

Sean Bowen rode 40-1 outsider Henllan Harri, trained by his father Peter, to a head margin over Henderson’s Vyta Du Roc in the bet365 Gold Cup.

JADE justified evenmoney favouritism in Punchestown’s Grade 1 Mares Champion Hurdle for Gordon Elliott – but Willie Mullins struck back with Bapaume in the top-level Four Year Old Champion Hurdle to edge a nail-biter for the trainers’ title.