bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 3m 48.2s

Altior⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 175| CD

1/6

Unbeaten in 13 starts over fences (incl 4x C&D); determined winner of Champion Chase for a second time at Cheltenham (2m, soft) last month - Sceau Royal (third) beaten 3½L; can he make it 19 straight wins and notch a hat-trick of Celebration Chases?

Form: 11-1111

Diego Du Charmil^t⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155| D

20/1

Grade 1 winning novice chaser (Maghull, Aintree 2m soft); well beaten fifth in this race last season by the brilliant Altior and has twice been on the receiving end of heavy defeats from today's rival this season (Kempton and Ascot).

Form: F15-523

God's Own²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 155| D

20/1

A flag-bearer for Tom George; mercifully suffered no lasting damage when sharply pulled up in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham (lame); outstayed over 2m4f at Aintree (Melling Chase); finished a keeping on 7L third to Altior in this race in 2018.

Form: 33-12P5

Sceau Royal⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 164| CD

10/3

Beaten 24L by Altior in the Tingle Creek Chase over C&D in December, but has won five of his eight starts over fences and got much closer to the reigning Champion Chaser at Cheltenham last month (beaten 3½L); needs another career best.

Form: 11-1423

Vosne Romanee^t,v¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 151| D

33/1

Useful handicapper (6-13 over fences); has had a relatively light campaign but arrives in decent form after finishing 9L second to Azzuri at Ayr (2m+ Listed) two-weeks ago; sharpest on a sound surface (i.e. good); rated 24lb inferior to Altior.

Form: 112P12

Non-Runners

Darebin⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: G & J Moore J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Altior (1/6), Sceau Royal (10/3), God's Own (20/1), Diego Du Charmil (20/1), Vosne Romanee (33/1), Darebin (200/1)

The much anticipated clash with Cyrname hasn't materialised owing to the lively ground conditions underfoot, but racegoers remain in for a treat with the dual Champion Chase winner ALTIOR seeking to notch a record breaking 19th successive victory. Furthermore, he also bids to remain unbeaten over fences and add a third straight Celebration Chase to his ever burgeoning CV (4-4 over fences at Sandown). Realistically, with a safe round of fencing defeat looks to be out of the question unless Sceau Royal can draw a rabbit from the hat and find considerable improvement from Cheltenham.