Why it will still take a mighty effort to lower the once-great Altior's colours

3.05 Sandown
bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1) | 1m7½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

Roll up, roll up because what a fantastic two-mile feature we have to bring the curtain down on the season. It's last month’s Champion Chase heroine Put The Kettle On against the previously unbeatable but now sparingly seen former champion Altior.

The 11-year-old Altior has been beaten only twice in 17 starts over fences but both defeats have come in his last three outings and he definitely looked a horse on the wane when putting in a laboured display to finish only second in the Desert Orchid at Kempton over Christmas.

He was under pressure early on that sharp track and doesn't appear to retain the speed with which he was once blessed but judged on Racing Post Ratings that run was better than Put The Kettle On’s Champion Chase victory.

Altior received an RPR of 170 at Kempton, compared to Put The Kettle On's 162 (169 including her mares’ allowance) at Cheltenham.

Judged purely on those figures Altior would have beaten them all at Cheltenham to land a third Champion Chase and, if he can reproduce a 170 again, he will still be the one to beat.

Altior is now fitted with first-time cheekpieces and the headgear might also help him run to that level. Trainer Nicky Henderson has saddled ten winners from 30 runners who wore cheekpieces for the first time since the start of 2018, for a £1 level-stake profit of £11.68.

Put The Kettle On (leading): the Champion Chase heroine provided Stowaway with another Grade 1 winner on WednesdayCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Put The Kettle On improved 2lb on her previous best to win at Cheltenham and will probably need to progress again if she is to add this Grade 1.

There was a bunched finish to the Champion Chase, off a steady pace, and it didn't look a strong running. Hot favourite Chacun Pour Soi underperformed and plenty have argued Sceau Royal was unlucky not to win it.

Sceau Royal was travelling as well as the principals when Daryl Jacob went for a daring run up the inside of Rouge Vif after the third-last and the pair were almost brought down when the door was shut. That cost him several places, dropping back to eighth of the nine runners.

He didn't get a clear run coming off the home turn either, but kept on nicely to finish only three and three-quarter lengths behind Put The Kettle On in fifth, recording an RPR of 168.

That is in line with his previous bests and he has now recorded that figure on four separate occasions without bettering it. He will need to improve to come out on top here, though.

Sceau Royal winning the Game Spirit Chase with Greaneteen (pink silks) in behind)Credit: Edward Whitaker

Sceau Royal beat Greaneteen by 12 lengths when the pair met in the Game Spirit at Newbury, but Greaneteen was able to turn the tables and finish a place ahead of Sceau Royal at Cheltenham.

It seems fair to assume that Sceau Royal might have confirmed the Newbury form and beaten Greaneteen without suffering interference, but Greaneteen still improved.

He raced keenly and wasn't suited by the steady pace but appears to relish top of the ground and might get the stronger gallop he needs here. It would be foolish to write him off just yet.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Altior bids to prove he's no back number

Nicky Henderson was open with press and public alike that his team were not at their fighting best around a key period of the season at the turn of the year.

The figures bear that out as he will finish a distant fourth behind Paul Nicholls, Dan Skelton and Henry de Bromhead in this year's trainers' championship.

No single element of the season will have caused more frustration around Seven Barrows than the difficulty at getting dual Champion Chase winner Altior to the track.

However, while other missing pieces of the jigsaw may have to wait until next season, the Celebration Chase can provide an element of redemption for Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville.

Altior has won all five chase starts at Sandown including two Celebration ChasesCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Deep ground ahead of the Tingle Creek and a bacterial infection have limited Altior to a single start this year and so Henderson is keeping everything crossed for a clean run now.

"He's enjoyed this race in the past and enjoyed Sandown so it'll suit him on Saturday," said Henderson, who reported his star in fine form on Friday morning as he headed to the sales at Newmarket.

"The competition is top-class and I think it tells you enough when Dan Skelton is going over to Ireland [with Nube Negra] because the other horse [Put The Kettle On] is coming to England!

"All is good so far and hopefully nothing thwarts us at the last minute this time."

De Bromhead: Put The Kettle On 'comes alive' on trips to England

With the rival attractions of the Punchestown festival, Irish participation has been scarce in a race that only achieved Grade 1 status in 2014.

Henry de Bromhead managed to get his name on the roll of honour six years ago with a brilliant jumper that liked to hear the sound of his hooves rattle in Special Tiara.

In Put The Kettle On he has another fleet-footed two miler who seems to reserve her best for trips across the Irish Sea, and the seven-year-old mare arrives here on the back of her finest hour in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Put The Kettle On and Aidan Coleman are four from four togetherCredit: Edward Whitaker

In fairness to Put The Kettle On, her third place behind Chacun Pour Soi at Leopardstown was only rated 1lb behind her win in the Arkle as a novice at Cheltenham and 3lb shy of what she achieved in defeating Nube Negra last month.

De Bromhead remains convinced that her immaculate record of four from four when travelling to Britain makes this the right choice of race over the Punchestown William Hill Champion Chase next Tuesday.

"She's been incredible and she just seems to come alive every time she comes over to England," the trainer said. "She just loves it over here for some reason. She's been great since Cheltenham and we're looking forward to seeing how she gets on."

Aidan Coleman retains his partnership with Put The Kettle On but Rachael Blackmore won't be watching on from the weighing room, given the presence of stablemate Ornua, another with a taste for Britain.

The veteran has plenty to find on this year's form but boasts a course-and-distance runner-up effort in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase here from 2018, as well as a Grade 1 novice success at Aintree later the same season.

What the others say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Dolos and Greaneteen
Dolos loves Sandown. The race came too soon for him last time. He likes fast ground and is a lively outsider. Greaneteen was only beaten two lengths in the Champion Chase, and he ran very well at Sandown in the Tingle Creek back in December. It’s a very interesting, open race, and he must have a leading chance – two lengths isn’t too much to find.

Danny McMenamin will be crowned Champion Conditional at Sandown on Saturday and believes Nuts Well may still be underrated in some quartersCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Danny McMenamin, rider of Nuts Well
He's a little dude. He's been climbing the ladder quietly over the last couple of seasons and some people have underestimated him on occasions but it's no shock to me when he goes and runs a good race up against the big lads. We're hoping he runs a good race on Saturday and then we can plan out a route for next season, starting again in the Old Roan and then taking in the Peterborough Chase before going back to Aintree again.

Alan King, trainer of Sceau Royal
He nearly took my head off when I walked into his box, which is a good sign as when he is feisty you know he is at the top of his game. We thought Aintree would come too soon after his hard race at Cheltenham, where, like Daryl, I remain convinced that he would have been right there at the finish in the Queen Mother had he not been stopped completely when squeezed up against the rail after the third last.
Reporting by Scott Burton

Read more Saturday previews:

1.55 Sandown: classy Flat performer On To Victory bids to sign off in style for a second time

2.30 Sandown: fantastic Frodon aiming for fitting end to record-breaking season for Nicholls

3.40 Sandown: find out who's in 'serious order' for the bet365 Gold Cup

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets