Mission impossible? Find out which five horses will face Altior at Kempton

Altior will take on five rivals in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on Sunday, although travel restrictions have prevented main rival Put The Kettle On from lining up.

Altior captured the Desert Orchid Chase as the 1-8 favourite in 2018 and is set to run at Kempton having bypassed the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at the start of the month due to concerns about his ability to perform to his best on the ground.

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The ten-year-old is at least 9lb clear of his rivals on ratings, with Sceau Royal and Rouge Vif his biggest challenges on figures. Global Citizen, Nube Negra and Duc De Genievres complete the field.

Both Kempton and Chepstow’s meetings will be taking place without spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic, which also stopped Put The Kettle On travelling from Ireland. Chepstow will also have to pass a 7.45am inspection on Sunday for its Coral Welsh Grand National fixture due to heavy rain forecast.

A total of 18 horses have been declared for the Grade 3 Coral Welsh Grand National, run this year in memory of Colin Tizzard’s daughter, Kim Gingell, who died in May after a short illness.

Potters Corner won last year's Welsh Grand National and while he's not back, Truckers Lodge, Yala Enki, Prime Venture and The Two Amigos reopposeCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Last year’s second, third, fourth and fifth – Truckers Lodge, Yala Enki, Prime Venture and The Two Amigos – all line up again in a race headed by favourite Secret Reprieve.

Ante-post favourite Nassalam has not been declared for the Grade 1 Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, with the final field of nine headed by Houx Gris, a €200,000 buy from the sales last month for trainer Paul Nicholls.

The Grade 1 Savills Chase and Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle are the highlights on Monday’s card at Leopardstown with the likes of Fury Road and Sire Du Berlais in action in the latter.

A field of 14 have been declared for the Savills Chase including Samcro, Presenting Percy, Delta Work, Kemboy and Minella Indo.

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