Henry de Bromhead 'very happy' with Put The Kettle On ahead of Politliogue clash

The last two winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase are set for a Shloer Chase showdown at Cheltenham on Sunday and Put The Kettle On is ready for battle according to her trainer Henry de Bromhead.

The seven-year-old mare will put her unbeaten course record on the line on Sunday as she bids to make it five from five at Cheltenham, but she will not have it easy as 2020 Champion Chase winner Politologue features among the six entries in the Grade 2 contest.

Nube Negra, who flew home to get within half-a-length of Put The Kettle On in March, is also among the sextet, while the line-up is completed by Rouge Vif – now in the care of Paul Nicholls – Grand Annual winner Sky Pirate and Bun Doran.

2.20 Cheltenham: Shloer Chase card and betting

De Bromhead said: "Put The Kettle On is in really good form. She did a piece of work last week and I was very happy with it so all roads lead to the Shloer on Sunday. She seems to love Cheltenham and won the race last year so it has always been on her agenda."

Put The Kettle On (right) and Nube Negra (left) will clash again in the Shloer ChaseCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Politologue did not get a chance to defend his Champion Chase crown in March after as he was withdrawn minutes before the off after blood was found in his nostrils, and his trainer Paul Nicholls is not afraid to tackle Put The Kettle On.

Speaking in his Racing Post stable tour, he said: "I've just got half a feeling that the Tingle Creek this year could be hot if Shishkin, Greaneteen, Hitman and all the others turn up there and I wouldn't mind taking on Put The Kettle On in the Shloer.

"He's been an amazing horse and it was just a shame he had a trickle of blood in his nose before the Champion Chase last season and had to miss the race because I had him ready to run for his life.

"He's best fresh but when you've done loads of work with him. He still loves what he's doing and, as long as we're happy with him, he'll have a couple more runs."

Politologue: set to start his season in the ShloerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Rouge Vif, who posted an RPR of 167 when winning a handicap chase at Cheltenham's showcase meeting last year, could also make his first start for Nicholls in the Shloer.

He added: "We're still learning about him. He's quite keen at home and just getting his act together now. He'll have an away day somewhere and then go to Cheltenham for the Shloer Chase on Sunday.

"After a few runs, I could see him being awesome for the Celebration Chase in the spring but he's got to get into our system and it doesn't happen overnight."

Ladbrokes have installed Put The Kettle On and Nube Negra as their 7-4 joint-favourites and Sky Pirate next best at 7-2, with the Grand Annual winner having had the benefit of a recent run when he chased home Before Midnight in a handicap chase at the track last month.

Shloer Chase betting
Ladbrokes: 7-4 Put The Kettle On, Nube Negra, 7-2 Sky Pirate, 6 Politologue, 8 Rouge Vif, 40 Bun Doran.

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