Altior is out on his own after 18 becomes 19 but now a new challenge awaits

Altior remains a long way behind the jumper with the longest winning record but when in competition Ed Moses never had to contend with a hill, let alone anything so complex as the Railway fences.

Across nine years, nine months and nine days, between 1977 and 1987, the legendary US athlete completed 122 races without defeat. He was a brilliant hurdler. So, too, was Altior, but the pride of Seven Barrows has gone on to be an even more brilliant chaser, one who now holds the outright world record for consecutive wins by a jumps racehorse.

The unconquerable era began at Chepstow on October 10, 2015, one year and nine months after the previous record holder, Big Buck's, failed to turn 18 into 19 on his return from injury at Cheltenham. It was at Cheltenham in last month's Queen Mother Champion Chase that Altior drew level with the mighty staying hurdler. On that occasion he was short of his imperious best but still managed to win. That's what winners do. They just find a way.