bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 3m 51.30s

Altior^p1¹¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 169| BF| CD

9/4

Outstanding on his day, winner of 15 of his 17 starts over fences, including the last 3 running of this, but he was below par on return at Kempton in December. Now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 111/21-2

Dolos^t⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 158| CD

18/1

Very smart chaser who has finished out of the first two just once from 5 starts over fences here. However, he was last of 6 behind Sceau Royal in the Game Spirit at Newbury last time.

Form: 14-4426

Greaneteen³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 164| D

13/2

Progressive chaser who was runner-up in the C&D Tingle Creek in December. Just 2 lengths adrift of Put The Kettle On when fourth in the Champion Chase, but this demands a clear career-best.

Form: 14-1234

Nuts Well¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 159| D

22/1

Has improved again this season, landing the Old Roan at Aintree (2½m) on return in October and second in the Melling Chase over the same C&D recently. Still, he's likely to find a few too good here.

Form: 113-112

Ornua¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 146| D

28/1

Winner of the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree 2 years ago, but has subsequently failed to match that form and yard saddles a far stronger candidate in Put The Kettle On.

Form: 234351

Sceau Royal³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 163| CD

3/1

Very smart hurdler/chaser who won the Game Spirit at Newbury in February. Unlucky in the Champion Chase next time (going well when nearly brought down 3 out) and a bold show is on the cards.

Form: 124F15

Put The Kettle On³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 159| D

5/2

Tough and consistent mare who made it 4-4 at Cheltenham with a gritty display in the Champion Chase at last month's Festival. Another career-best required here, but she won't go down without a fight.

Form: 211-131

Forecasts

Altior (9/4), Put The Kettle On (5/2), Sceau Royal (3/1), Greaneteen (13/2), Dolos (18/1), Nuts Well (22/1), Ornua (28/1)

SCEAU ROYAL was beaten by Altior in the latest running of this in 2019 (and on the 3 other occasions that they've met), but is taken to emerge on top this time. He was travelling at least as well as eventual winner Put The Kettle On when nearly brought down 3 out in the Champion Chase, a race he may well have won granted better luck. Altior has something to prove on the back of his Kempton defeat.