'Electric and lethal': Rouge Vif can step up in Shloer showdown says Whittington

Rouge Vif is in rare form ahead of his meeting with Defi Du Seuil and Arkle Chase heroine Put The Kettle On in Sunday's Grade 2 Shloer Chase, according to the man who rides him out every morning, trainer Harry Whittington.

One day after Simply The Betts is due to line up as a major fancy for the first big betting race of the season, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Rouge Vif will add to the excitement for Whittington, jockey Gavin Sheehan and owners Kate and Andrew Brooks.

Sheehan returned to the Lambourn schooling grounds on Wednesday after recovering from a wrist injury and put the six-year-old son of Sageburg through his jumping paces.

Harry Whittington stable tour: 'He's transformed over the summer and jumps unbelievably well for a novice'

Harry Whittington has a big weekend ahead at Cheltenham with Simply The Betts and Rouge VifCredit: Alice Whittington

"He's in great form, he's had a run and he'd hard fit," Whittington told a Great British Racing press conference ahead of Cheltenham's three-day November Meeting. "He schooled this morning with Gavin. He popped up once over four fences and was electric. That's all he needs to get his eye in.

"Where he's so impressive is he's so economical [with his jumping], he doesn’t necessarily make a shape. He's just so quick from A to B. And when he lands he just has this ability to accelerate away from a fence. I think that's what makes him so lethal and we’re looking forward to the Shloer with him on Sunday."

Rouge Vif is a best-priced 5-2 to overcome seven-time Grade 1 winner Defi Du Seuil and Put The Kettle On, who leads in their meetings 2-0.

Rouge Vif (right of picture) chases Put The Kettle On in the Arkle Chase at the festival in MarchCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Whittington admitted that his decisive win at Cheltenham in October was a major boost, given that plenty had raised a question about Rouge Vif's ability around the track.

"I got sick of people saying to me 'are you sure he's the same on undulations as he is on a flat track?' But he put that to bed in his run three weeks ago.

"It's a good renewal but if it's good to soft I'd be really bullish that he'll be able to run a big race and be there or thereabouts. I would think that Defi is probably the one to beat, his record speaks for itself and he is a high-class animal.

"Put The Kettle On has been very impressive in beating us twice but that was on heavy ground. On good ground I’m looking forward to taking her on again."

Simply The Betts: gave Harry Whittington a first Cheltenham Festival winnerCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Simply The Betts will renew rivalry with Happy Diva in the Paddy Power Gold Cup after just edging the verdict in the Brown Advisory and Merriebelle Stable Plate back in March.

Whittington said: "Personally I thought he was better on Trials day [in January] than he was in the Brown Advisory, when he'd had a hard season and I just think his class got him through. If you look at the ratings it was probably a slightly better run because Imperial Aura is a proper, proper animal.

"The Brown Advisory was his last run of a hard season and he's now fresh and incredibly well."

Cheltenham Saturday card

Cheltenham Sunday card

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