Cheltenham Festival – Hoping to capitalise on absence of dual winner Altior

The race has changed complexion, and lost some of its allure, after Nicky Henderson’s 2018 and 2019 winner Altior failed to recover in time from lameness in order to defend his championship.

His absence means Badsworth Boy’s record as the only triple winner of the Champion Chase remains unchallenged – he won the 1983 and ‘84 renewals for training legend Michael Dickinson before his late mother, Monica, saddled the horse to glory in 1985.

Chacun Pour Soi has run just four times for Willie Mullins, with his three victories including a comprehensive victory over Defi Du Seuil at the Punchestown Festival last May.

The eight-year-old suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Ryanair Chase contender A Plus Tard on his reappearance at Leopardstown over Christmas, but bounced back to winning ways when seeing off high-class stablemate Min at last month’s Dublin Racing Festival.

Mullins is hopeful his charge has not yet reached the ceiling of his ability.

“He’s only catching up on experience,” said Ireland’s champion trainer last night. “He showed us from day one he could be a different class, and the day we schooled him in Leopardstown he really opened my eyes.

“Danny (Mullins) rode him, and I told him to follow the graded horses around, but after two fences he was in front. That was spectacular for a horse for his inexperience, but he’s such a natural. It looks a hell of a race – but we’ve always thought a lot of him, and hopefully he’ll run a big race.”

Defi Du Seuil is already a dual Festival winner, having taken the 2017 Triumph Hurdle and the Marsh Novices’ Chase 12 months ago for Philip Hobbs.

The JP McManus-owned gelding is three from three since having to play second fiddle to Chacun Pour Soi last spring, beating the now-retired Un De Sceaux in both the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Clarence House at Ascot this season.

Hobbs, who trains in North Devon, said: “He won over two and a half (miles) at the Festival last year, so we know he stays. We don’t mind at all what the ground is like – it’s not too much of a problem either way.”

Alan King’s Sceau Royal was beaten just three and a half lengths into third place in last year’s renewal, and was a similar distance behind Altior when runner-up to the aforementioned Henderson’s superstar at Newbury on his latest outing.

“He is in very good form, and I was delighted with his run in behind Altior in the Game Spirit,” said King. “I think if anything he has improved again, and he has had a great preparation, but we could have just done with the ground drying up a bit. We know what we are up against, but he is in the form of his life – and let’s hope he can acquit himself well.”

Paul Nicholls saddles last year’s runner-up Politologue and Dynamite Dollars, the latter open to improvement under Harry Cobden after winning at Doncaster last season where he sustained injury in victory.

“Dynamite Dollars had a great season last year as a novice chaser – winning four, including the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown. He was doing really well but unfortunately got hurt when he won at Doncaster, which meant he missed the rest of the season,” said Nicholls.

“He does not need to improve too much to be right in the mix.”