Nicky Henderson proved the recent absence of jump racing has been of no hindrance to the form of his string as prospects Mad Max, Optimus Maximus and Zazamix won at Newbury.

Henderson, almost unbeatable in November and December, was having his first serious runners since January 1 after the cold spell forced a great deal of National Hunt action to be called off.

Most interest centred on the unbeaten Mad Max in the Rutland Antique Centre Bakewell Novices' Hurdle.

There are not many bigger horses than the giant seven-year-old, who is setting Henderson quite a conundrum as to his target at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mad Max's labouring stride is evidently deceptive but the 4-5 favourite had to be given a fairly stern reminder by jockey Tony McCoy to collect by three-and-a-half lengths from Pause And Clause.

This event was over two miles and three furlongs, and Henderson said: "He needs to relax a lot better but Tony says he is very, very good.

"If it was softish ground again we might want to drop back to two miles but if it is good or faster at Cheltenham he would want to go two-and-a-half.

"I'm afraid we have to sit on the fence at the moment. Knowing the ground on the first day at Cheltenham, if I had to have a bet I'd say two miles, but we'll sit down and think about it."

The trainer's base at Seven Barrows in Berkshire already houses the Triumph Hurdle favourite Zaynar, and Optimus Maximus (11-4) looked another smart youngster in the Berkshire Stand Bookshop Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, which he won by 12 lengths on his jumping debut.

Henderson revealed: "AP McCoy said this horse would actually make a better chaser than a hurdler. He's always been good but he has had a few niggly problems so I would expect improvement."

Zazamix (7-2) rounded things off for Henderson and McCoy on his debut in the Brendan and Jenny Powell Happy Birthday "Junior" Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

"He's got a great attitude and you won't see many of mine making all the running in a bumper," said the trainer.

On another excellent midweek Newbury card, Planet Of Sound continued on the Arkle Trophy trail with a respectable four-length defeat of French Opera in the Pheasant Inn Novices' Chase.

Aside from getting the second-last fence completely wrong, the 6-4 favourite produced an accomplished round of jumping under Richard Johnson, making all in the extended two miles and two furlong event.

Sarah Hobbs, wife of Somerset trainer Philip, said: "He's a lot more confident now – he used to flatten out in soft ground but after the mistake he just picked up again.

"Richard would like to run him once more before Cheltenham. The Arkle does take some getting – you need to be a bit of a stayer."

William Hill and totesport quote the gelding at 25-1 for the Arkle.

Henrietta Knight looks to be getting a handle on Rathmulen (11-2) who cleared many of his fences with inches to spare in the M And C Carpets Handicap Chase.

She explained: "He won a point-to-point so we started over three miles, then two-and-a-half but he didn't seem to stay that and Denis O'Regan, who rode last time, suggested dropping back further.

"He might not run until the ground gets better and he needs to stay left-handed."

An exciting conclusion to the European Operatives Harwell Trophy Handicap Chase saw The Sawyer (8-1) and Willie Kennedy edging out Appleaday.

The EBF/TBA Mares' Novice Chase Qualifier went to Oliver Sherwood's likeable Jaunty Flight (11-8 favourite), wearing down Fit To Drive on the run-in.

"She'll come on an awful lot for that – I've had problems with her," said Sherwood. "The final of this would have to be the plan but I may even enter her at Cheltenham. What for, I don't know."