Keith Melrose on why the Champion Chase heroine faces a stiff task in the Shloer

Sunday: 2.20 Cheltenham
Shloer Chase (Grade 2) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Small-field races are not undesirable by definition. If a field of four contains the last two winners of the Champion Chase and last season's runner-up, detractors would struggle to improve it without either padding or asking for the moon on a stick.

The Shloer Chase has been warmly embraced since its inception in 2009, no surprise given it is at Cheltenham and has conditions more appealing to highly rated horses than the Haldon Gold Cup, which used to be the natural stepping stone to the Tingle Creek.

It is, if anything, a bit of a surprise that it took so long for a winner to double up in the same season's Champion Chase. Put The Kettle On became the first in March, taking her record at the track to four wins from as many runs, all of them on the Old course.

Like so many extremely popular horses, Put The Kettle On owes her success to style and character as much as pure ability. Even factoring in her weight for sex, she was the lowest-rated winner of the Champion Chase since Voy Por Ustedes.

She thrives at Cheltenham because she races in the front rank, jumps really well and tries hard. More talented rivals need more to go right for them.

That may happen for one of the three others in this race. Politologue, Put The Kettle On's predecessor on the Champion Chase roll of honour, needs an end-to-end gallop over two miles. Rouge Vif is a stablemate of Politologue nowadays, races prominently and has reportedly been 'buzzy' at his new home. Once those three start racing, they will not let up.

Politologue: needs an end-to-end gallop over two milesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Harry Skelton will certainly be hoping so. He rides Nube Negra, who many regard as having shaped best back in March. He was caught further back than ideal in a race that, unusually, was not run at a furious gallop.

On his seasonal debut in the Desert Orchid, Nube Negra had decisively defeated Altior in a manner no other horse ever managed. He makes his return here, looks to have a suitable race in prospect from a tactical point of view and is not up against a great of the game.

The Shloer promises to be a tremendous spectacle, all the more so the further out Put The Kettle On and Politologue start putting on a show. Backers of Nube Negra would have twice the reason to smile.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Champion Chase one-two clash again

Friday proved that you need only two horses for extraordinary drama and Sunday promises to provide a four-runner spectacular at the course.

This race is never particularly well subscribed, with only four runners in the previous two runnings and an average of fewer than six since 2011, but there is no denying the quality this time.

Put Your Kettle On, trained by Henry de Bromhead, bids to take her course record to 5-5 in a race she landed last season to kickstart a campaign that culminated in Champion Chase glory in March.

John Dermody, joint-owner in the One For Luck Racing Syndicate, said: “Henry felt she was in great form earlier in the week and we know she loves Cheltenham – this course brings her stamina into play. This is obviously a very good Grade 2."

Nube Negra was beaten just half a length by Put The Kettle On in the Champion Chase and the Dan Skelton-trained seven-year-old has the fewest runs over fences of the four and looks the potential improver.

Skelton said: “About three weeks ago we saw the ground would potentially be like this and he’s been in great form. We were thinking of going straight to the Tingle Creek but we’re happy the ground is like this. I’ve done loads of work with him and he's really well. It’s a good race though.”

Paul Nicholls believes four-time top-level winner Politologue has a “great chance” on his return and first start since wind surgery. The ten-year-old won the Champion Chase in 2020 and added the Tingle Creek to his illustrious CV last season.

Nicholls also runs Rouge Vif, a recent addition to the yard who similarly has undergone wind surgery and finished third in the 2020 Arkle when trained by Harry Whittington.

Nicholls said: “It’s a good race with four good horses in there. Politologue is in great shape and goes well fresh, which is the key to him. He loves Cheltenham and should have a great chance.

“Rouge Vif might just want two and a half miles, but that could prove in his favour as you need to stay really well in these good quality two-mile chases. He doesn’t carry a 6lb penalty like the others, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.”
Reporting by Jack Haynes

Read Sunday's previews:

12.30 Punchestown: Vanillier and Sixshooter take aim at quality Florida Pearl Chase

1.10 Cheltenham: Can exciting Does He Know make it three in a row over fences?

1.45 Cheltenham: James Ewart bidding for first Cheltenham winner with fancied Empire De Maulde

2.05 Punchestown: Honeysuckle's biggest threat? Echoes In Rain out to show talent in the Morgiana

2.55 Cheltenham: How good were last season's juveniles? The Greatwood could give us the answer

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