Nicky Henderson considers Newbury assignment for Altior

Trainer Nicky Henderson has raised the possibility of running Altior at Newbury next month.The gifted seven-year-old is ante-post favourite for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival in March, having stylishly won three out of three over fences.Altior has been entered for the Grade One Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 21, in which he could clash with the Willie Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux, who won the Tingle Creek at Sandown last month.But Henderson is also considering the Grade Two Game Spirit Chase on February 11 as a stepping stone towards the Festival. The Seven Barrows handler told the Daily Mirror: "I'm not trying to makeAltior into Sprinter Sacreand I'm not trying tocompare him to Sprinterbecause you mustn't. "But I think he wascapable of being aChampion Hurdle horse- and at the moment Idon't regret the switch tochasing. "It's all about keepingyour options open in thewinter. "I'm also thinking ofthe Game Spirit but, if hecould run round Newburyfor £30,000, he couldrun round Ascot for£150,000."