Altior claimed a dramatic renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham to remain unbeaten over jumps.
In the process he was winning at the Festival for a third successive year in a third different race — but for a long way it did look like it would be done quite in the manner many expected.
The tacky ground prevented him from travelling with his usual fluency and only two days ago he was lame with a poultice on his foot. Coming down the hill it appeared Nico de Boinville was in deep trouble as Politologue, God’s Own and Min were all seemingly going better.
Altior showed the guts of a champion, though, and as De Boinville pulled him out, he clicked into overdrive. The even-money favourite then flew up his favourite hill to ultimately win in style from Min, providing Nicky Henderson with a record 60th winner at the Festival, with God's Own running well in the race yet again in third.
The returning Douvan appeared to be enjoying himself on his first run since the same event 12 months ago, but he unfortunately fell before the race really began in earnest.
De Boinville said: “I was in serious trouble the whole way round. It’s not his ground at all. His jumping just kept him in the race. He’s some horse. “
He’s had a hard race there. He’s some horse to get me out of trouble. He’s exceptional. He’s the best of the best. That was just sensational. Boy, am I lucky to ride him.
“Everyone loves an Irish banker, but how about an English one?”
The rider reserved special praise for Henderson, saying: “That was a great training performance. To come back from a scare on Monday, that was a great training performance.”
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Altior (Nico de Boinville) Evens Fav
Min (P Townend) 5-2
God's Own (P J Brennan) 40-1
