Put The Kettle On and Altior set for Celebration Chase showdown at Sandown

Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Put The Kettle On is set to rival Nicky Henderson’s Altior in Saturday’s Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained mare is entered into the showdown, but Nube Negra - who came second in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month - will head to Punchestown next week.

Altior has only been seen once this season - when he finished second to Nube Negra in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27.

The 11-year-old was due to run at Newbury in February, but Henderson pulled him from the Game Spirit due to it being too close to the Cheltenham Festival.

However, following a late setback, Altior missed the chance to win a third Champion Chase - for a second successive year.

It now means that the Celebration Chase at Sandown will be his final run of the season and it doesn’t come any more challenging with a well-contested field.

Put The Kettle On impressed at Cheltenham and the Alan King-trained Sceau Royal also holds an entry, while de Bromhead sadles Ornua run and Paul Nicholls has entered Greaneteen and Dolos into the Grade 1 race.

It’s expected to be another thrilling card at Sandown as Henderson’s Mister Fisher is expected to contest the bet365 Oaksey Chase.

Elsewhere for the Seven Barrows handler, Lilly Pedlar hold an entry for bet365 Novices Championship Final, while Mister Fisher will go up against Frodon, Born Survivor and Militarian in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase.

However, Dual King George winner Clan Des Obeaux for Nicholls will now run in Punchestown.