Champion Chase heroine Put The Kettle On begins road back to Cheltenham Festival

Saturday: 3.20 Gowran Park
PWC Champion Chase (Grade 2)| 2m4f | 5yo+ | RTV

Twenty-four hours before the Arc, the return of the Champion Chase heroine.

Put The Kettle On, who gunned down Chacun Pour Soi at Cheltenham in March, commences her journey back to the Cotswolds in what is a high-quality early season appetiser.

It comes as little surprise to see her path start here given Sizing Europe won this four times in a row between 2011 and 2014 so trainer Henry de Bromhead must have very fond memories of the 2m4f contest which helps rev up the jumps season.

Put The Kettle On's last win on Irish soil was way back in September of 2019 when she won a novice chase at Wexford under 7lb claimer Hugh Morgan. Since then she has shot to superstardom with back-to-back wins at the Cheltenham Festival, landing the 2020 Arkle and the 2021 Champion Chase.

Those wanting to oppose Put The Kettle On might point to the trip and the fact that she is making her reappearance, but she has two wins over 2m4f on her CV as well as victories over 2m3f and 2m3½f. She has also won on the back of 114-, 250- and 80-day breaks in the last two years so she certainly goes well fresh.

Aidan Coleman is making the trip over to continue his association with the seven-year-old mare, who is in receipt of 5lb from Easy Game.

That said, Easy Game arrives here on the back of a stylish victory over Ballyoisin at Listowel 13 days ago. That was a fair performance on the figures as he had to give that 162-rated rival 6lb, inflicting a three-and-a-half-length beating. He won this race last year, too, so you can understand why some punters might be contemplating
going against Put The Kettle On.

Easy Game is now up to a career-high mark of 161, identical to his Galway Plate conqueror Royal Rendezvous.

When the pair clashed at Ballybrit in July, Easy Game had to give Royal Rendezvous 4lb, failing by a length to do so. This time he must give that rival 5lb due to the conditions of the race so that is a big ask.

Hardline has not been seen since falling two out in this very race last year. He was disputing second at the time and had a few lengths to find on Easy Game, but he is a Grade 1 winner and should not be underestimated.

Of the rest, Castlegrace Paddy is a solid operator at this level, but Abbey Magic would look to have plenty to find on the figures.

A trip back to her beloved Cheltenham could be next on agenda for star mare

Henry de Bromhead reports Put The Kettle On to have summered well and is looking forward to seeing her back in action in what could be a stepping stone to the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham next month.

Put The Kettle On rallied bravely to beat Duc Des Genievres in last year's Shloer, and the trainer is eyeing up a repeat bid provided everything goes well on her return to action here.

De Bromhead said: "She seems to be in great form and everything has gone to plan since she came back in from her summer holidays. It's a race we've been very lucky in down the years so we're looking forward to running her and we'll see how we go.

"She's obviously a mare who has a very good record at Cheltenham and something like the Shloer could work again this season. She looks great and has done really well so we're happy with her."

Henry de Bromhead: planning a return trip to Cheltenham next month for the Shloer ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Easy Game and Royal Rendezvous
Easy Game won this race last year and has every chance again this time around. Royal Rendezvous will like this track and a reproduction of his Galway Plate win should make him hard to beat.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Castlegrace Paddy
It's an unbelievable race really, isn't it? If we had winged the last at Fairyhouse last Easter we might have beaten Easy Game. That's pretty decent form and, if he reproduces that, it will do me. Whether it will be good enough to beat a Queen Mother winner or not I don't know. He'll probably come on for the run, but he couldn't be in better form and I've a few decent pieces of work done with him.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Hardline
He's a good horse on his day and goes very well fresh. He picked up an injury so that's why you haven't seen him since this race last year. He's in good form again at home and we're looking forward to getting him out again.

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