On the drift! Altior out to 5-6 as ground goes soft for Kempton comeback

Punters are fearing another Nicky Henderson-trained hotpot could be turned over at Kempton, with Altior on the drift this morning ahead of his seasonal return in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase (2.30).

The ground at Kempton was changed to soft late on Sunday morning following a wet evening and further rain in the morning, and conditions are unlikely to suit Altior who is now as big as 10-11 with William Hill (from 4-6).

Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford said: "It's pretty wet. Initially we had 8mm before 6am and we've had a further 6mm since then. I initially changed it from good to soft to soft, good to soft in places. Now I'm just calling it soft everywhere."

The exceptional chaser runs for the first time since February, having missed Cheltenham with a setback and the ground going against him in the Tingle Creek earlier this month.

Altior backers are hoping he will not suffer the same fate at Kempton as stablemate Epatante, who was turned over at odds of 1-5 in the Christmas Hurdle at the track yesterday.

There is little between Altior's five other challengers, with the Alan King-trained Sceau Royal cut to 11-2 (from 6-1) with race-fitness firmly in his favour. The eight-year-old is back over fences having had four races over hurdles this season.

In Kempton's other Grade 2, the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (1.20), there is confidence in the Henderson-trained Shishkin. The six-year-old is a steady 1-3 favourite to make it two from two over fences.

Chacun Pour Soi: the Champion Chase favourite is reported to be in top shape by Willie Mullins ahead of his Leopardstown assignmentCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Bettors are also keen to take on crack two-mile chaser Chacun Pour Soi in the Grade 1 feature at Leopardstown, with support coming from Notebook who has been shortened into 7-2 (from 4-1).

The Henry de Bromhead-trained seven-year-old has 9lb to find on ratings with the 4-7 favourite, who was 1-2 overnight, but Notebook was an impressive winner last time and there could be more to come in the Leopardstown Paddy's Rewards Club Chase (1.10).

He has won five of his six starts over fences, with his only blemish coming when sixth in the Arkle at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. That race was won by the re-opposing Put The Kettle On, a general 13-2 chance here.

Old Roan Chase winner Nuts Well has been taken out of the feature William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby due to the heavy ground.

Today's key meetings

Kempton (first race: 12.45)
Going: soft

Non-runners
12.45: 7 More Than A Prince
1.55: 1 Perfect Myth, 6 Alpha Carinae
3.05: 10 Manofthemountain
3.40: 11 Magic Dancer, 15 Sorbet

Leopardstown (12.05)
Going: Yielding, yielding to soft in places (chase course); Soft, yielding in places (hurdle and bumper)

Non-runners
12.05: 19 Dashing Diamond, 20 Laralei, 21 Duck And Vanish
12.35 6 Klassical Dream
1.45: 3 Dewcup
2.20: 7 You Raised Me Up, 22 Laura Bullion, 23 Leahman
2.55: 22 Run Wild Fred, 24 Scoir Mear, 25 Elwood

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