Altior looked like he had never been away at Newbury on Saturday as he cruised to victory in the Betfair Exchange (Game Spirit) Chase.
Off for 287 days and the subject of many a news item earlier in the season when ruled out of the Tingle Creek, the eight-year-old defied his absence following wind surgery with a classy performance.
Politologue won the Tingle Creek at Sandown in Altior’s absence and was three from three for the season prior to Newbury, but he had no answer as Nicky Henderson’s charge took over on the bridle after the last.
Nudged out for a four-length success, it was a display of pure dominance from the winner and he simply looks the standout performer in the two-mile chase division – and by some distance on this evidence.
Sky Bet went 4/6 favourite from even-money about him for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and spokesman Michael Shinners said: “Altior has put Politologue in his place there and strengthened his Champion Chase claims emphatically.
“It looks a re-match from the 2016 Sky Bet Supreme now with Min our clear 5/2 second favourite following his own impressive win at Leopardstown last weekend.”
De Boinville told ITV Racing: "He felt fantastic there. That ground would be softer than ideal, but he's handled it well and I couldn't hear any noises or anything like that.
"It was a big effort from the yard to get him back for today. It's probably come a bit earlier than we wanted, so all credit to the guv'nor (Henderson) and Toby Lawes, who rides him every day at home.
"We knew coming in here that he was very fresh and very well and we haven't been able to do much because the ground has been so frosty this week, but he was very good there."
Henderson said: "It was going to be tactical and I didn't know who was going to do what, but that was exactly what we wanted.
"He has got so much pace this horse, I was fairly confident if he could get to the second-last upsides on the bridle, it would be hard for a horse to go with him from there.
"He has to improve a lot. He's had a nice time. The timing was good, he hasn't had a hard race, he hasn't even had his ground and he's beaten a good horse.
"You'd have to say that was perfection, from my point of view."
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