Altior and Put The Kettle on clash at Sandown

PA Sport Reporters
April 22, 2021 10:30 am

Celebration showdown attracts field of seven.

Altior will face six rivals as he bids to win the bet365 Celebration Chase for a fourth time at Sandown on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson’s dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero took the prize in 2017, 2018 and 2019 – but was denied a four-timer 12 months ago as racing was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Altior has just had the three races since that success two years ago and was beaten on his latest start at Kempton in December by Nube Negra.

He missed the Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month with a setback, where the latter, trained by Dan Skelton, was runner-up to the Henry de Bromhead-trained Put The Kettle On.

Aidan Coleman celebrates Cheltenham glory with Put The Kettle On (David Davies/Jockey Club)

Nube Negra heads to Punchestown rather than Sandown, but Put The Kettle on does take her chance, with the line-up completed by Dolos, Greanateen, Ornua and Sceau Royal.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Frodon heads a field of four for the bet365 Oaksey Chase.

This season’s King George VI Chase winner drops back in trip after finishing fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Taking him on are Mister Fisher, Born Survivor and Militarian. Tiger Roll, the two-time Grand National victor, was one of the three horses withdrawn at the 48-hour final declaration stage.

Rachael Blackmore rides at Sandown on Saturday (Tim Goode/PA)

The Young Master, winner of the bet365 Gold Cup in 2016, is one of 16 horses declared for the prestigious handicap chase over an extended three and a half miles.

Trainer Neil Mulholland also runs Doing Fine while the weights are headed by Caroline Bailey’s Crosspark.

Among others seeking to land the big pot on the last day of the jumps season are Kim Bailey’s El Presente, the Nicholls-trained Enrilo, Christian Williams’ pair of Cap Du Nord and Kitty’s Light and Irish raider Plan Of Attack from the De Bromhead stable, the mount of Rachael Blackmore.