Nicky Henderson is considering giving Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Altior his first chasing start at the upcoming Cheltenham Open meeting.

The Seven Barrows handler admits that some of his horses are not quite as forward as he would like given the dry weather and, while he conceded starting Altior off over fences at the scene of his biggest win to date isn’t ideal, he remains open to the idea.

Altior was unbeaten over timber last season, culminating in authoritative display as he defeated long-time favourite Min in the Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser in March.

Henderson immediately set about schooling his charger over the large obstacle with this season in mind and Altior is expected to take leading order in the Racing Post Arkle back at Cheltenham in March.

He could made his eagerly anticipated fencing bow at Prestbury Park in a little over ten days, according to his trainer.

“I was looking and there’s a couple of options, but he needs the ground. I don’t necessarily want to go to Cheltenham first time (over fences), but why not? “There’s also a two-mile-two novice at Kempton to think about,” Henderson stated.

Given the dry conditions that have prevailed thus far, there appears every chance the Open meeting will be run on good ground.

Henderson admits that had led to some degree of caution in getting his team up to speed for the winter campaign ahead.

“The horses are not as forward as I’d like them to be because of the ground. We’re not taking too many chances,” he added.