Questions remain over Cheltenham suitability for big Haydock winners

As odds-on value goes it’s hard to quibble with the 1-2 offered in places about Altior defending the Queen Mother Champion Chase after his latest demolition job in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

Opposition was disappointingly thin on the ground, but Nico de Boinville kept it simple and the brilliant nine-year-old was always comfortably clear of dual Grade 1 winner Fox Norton, who himself made a satisfactory return from injury.

Now a perfect 17 over obstacles, Altior did show a tendency to jump markedly left on occasions, but he never looked like falling and was value for considerably more than the seven-length winning margin. He’ll clearly be suited by going left-handed again at Cheltenham.