ALTIOR MAKES US TINGLE » » »

15 out of 15 for Henderson wonder horse De Boinville hails class act in muddy Creek Had to be a tractor with a Ferrari engine

Nicky Henderson feared the eight-year-old’s wheels would spin on Sandown Park’s rainsoftened terrain, as a select field of four assembled for the Grade 1 two-miler.

But his concerns were groundless, as Altior – also unbeaten in five outings over hurdles – under Nico de Boinville, powered past 2016 victor Un De Sceaux and Ruby Walsh for a fourlength supremacy. It also saw the winner cut to 4-6 for his Queen Mother Chase title defence at Cheltenham in March.

“It was a day for Land Rovers, not Ferraris,” said Henderson. “The good think about Altior is he’s got a bit of both.

“He’s got amazing gears. You