Henderson still loves the game - 'There'd be something up with me if I didn't'

The season may revolve around how the mighty Altior – unbeaten in his last 19 – fares stepping up in trip, but Seven Barrows is no one-horse operation and Buveur D'Air is back on track for a third Unibet Champion Hurdle, while trainer Nicky Henderson has thrown the kitchen sink at revitalising Might Bite.

A customary clutch of promising youngsters could produce the next Sprinter Sacre or Altior and they could fire in bumpers as a host were ready in the spring, only to be held up by the dry weather, while the novice chase department has the 68-year-old purring.

"I've been at this for 41 years and still love it," Henderson said. "If you didn't enjoy training this bunch of horses there'd be something wrong with you."