Ready, willing and able! Altior back to form for another Celebration

Altior is over his Cheltenham Festival exertions and ready to give the jumps season a rousing send-off at Sandown on Saturday, according to trainer Nicky Henderson.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase winner sidestepped Aintree as Henderson felt he had endured a tough race at Cheltenham, where he beat Min by seven lengths.

Instead he is set to try to win the bet365 Celebration Chase for the second time on Saturday, the final day of the jumps season.

Altior was one of nine entries for the race disclosed on Tuesday, when Henderson said: "He's in great form. He wasn't quite ready to go to Aintree. He was very good at telling us.

bet365 Oaksey Chase, card and form

"I gave him one bit of work just before Aintree and he showed he hadn't quite come back to himself, whereas on Sunday Nico [de Boinville] said he felt he was back to best. We're very happy with him."

Top Notch will represent Henderson in the bet365 Oaksey Chase, having not only missed the Grand National meeting but Cheltenham as well.

The Peterborough Chase winner had been among the leading candidates for the Ryanair Chase until he finished a well-beaten fourth behind Waiting Patiently and Cue Card in the Ascot Chase.

"Top Notch ran disappointingly in that race at Ascot," said Henderson. "He obviously wasn't quite right. It took him a bit of time to get over it, and so we're going to finish up here. He's in good form."

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