Altior will be looking to defend his Desert Orchid Chase title on Friday in one of the highlight races of the day from Kempton. He is one of eight entries for the race. Altior was being considered for the 3 mile trip for the King George, but instead settled back into his favoured two miles for this.
Desert Orchid Chase Race Odds*
Altior 1/4
Sceau Royal 4/1
Capeland 8/1
Due Des Genievres 12/1
Bun Doran 16/1
Riders Onthe Storm 12/1
Ordinary World 16/1
Caid Du Lin 33/1
*(betting odds taken from Bet365 on December 24th, 2019 at 1:05 pm)
Will Altior sweep to victory again?
There is no doubting the class of Altior. Particularly at two miles. There was a shock for him in his last outing, however, as his 19-race winning sequence was torn down by the exciting Cyrname, who is at the head of the market for King George VI Chase glory on Boxing Day. That defeat for Altior happened at Ascot over 2m 5f. That was Altiors first outing since his win at Sandown towards the end of April. Looking at the field that he is up against on Friday, it should be a winning return for Nicky Henderson’s chase king.
Can Sceau Royal overturn form against Altior?
Twice Sceau Royal went up against the mighty Altior last season. He didn’t get the better of him, and his form hasn’t quite been on the money. He was out in early December at Sandown where he could only manage sixth at the Tingle Creek and was nowhere near contention and laboured towards the end. Sceau Royal has won this distance, but his last victory was at Cheltenham in November last year.
Willie Mullins’ Duc De Genievres and Henry de Bromhead’s Ordinary World are the Irish contenders in the field. There hasn’t been much to show from the former who has carded a fourth-place finish at Navan and an 8th place at Punchestown since mid-November. He was in form earlier this year with back to back Chase victory. Needs a big step up here, however.
Ordinary World goes to Kempton on the back of a win in September. He can handle himself at a distance and may have claims as an each-way option at 16/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on December 24th, 2019 at 1:05 pm). He isn’t the most fluent of runners, but in his last outing, he showed some pretty good staying strength and speed to claim his victory.
Capeland the one to watch?
Paul Nicholls’ Capeland may be a keen one to watch at Kempton on Friday. After what appeared to be some fading form, he came back with a bank at Ascot at the end of November. Just three weeks earlier he had been disqualified at the Byrne Group Handicap, but then rallied himself to victory, at a much lighter weight, to win his most recent Chase.
He put in an easy finish as well, drawing clear at the last. If he gets a smooth start, then he could find himself getting in the fame from an 8/1 mark*(betting odds taken from Bet365 on December 24th, 2019 at 1:05 pm).
Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
Back a single winner at odds of 4/1 or more on any race that is televised live on ITV Racing. You will then be able to play a wager to the same stake (up to £50) on the next race broadcast live and if that following selection loses, you will get a stake refunded. The Bet365 offer applies to the FIRST single bet placed by a customer on each race shown live on ITV Racing.
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Refund up-to £50 per race.
The first bet on a race will be deemed as your qualifying bet.
If you back the winner of the last race on any day, your risk-free bet will be the first bet you place on the next qualifying race.
Does not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out.
Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, any refund amount or subsequent risk free bet amount will be equal to the remaining active stake.
If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature, any refund amount will be equal to the new stake and not the original stake.
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Applies to bets placed on Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place markets.
Does not apply to Ante-Post bets and Tote/Pari-Mutuel (bets and dividends).
Bets can be paid for from either your Withdrawable Balance or Bet Credits. Bets placed from your Withdrawable Balance will be refunded to your Withdrawable Balance and bets placed with Bet Credits will be refunded as Bet Credits.
Risk-free bets must be placed on the next eligible race using your own funds – if your bet loses then the stake will be refunded to your account shortly after the race.
Refund up-to £50 per race.
The first bet on a race will be deemed as your qualifying bet.
If you back the winner of the last race on any day, your risk-free bet will be the first bet you place on the next qualifying race.
Does not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out.
Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, any refund amount or subsequent risk free bet amount will be equal to the remaining active stake.
If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature, any refund amount will be equal to the new stake and not the original stake.
Where a risk free bet is changed using Edit Bet, no refund will be given and the offer will no longer apply.
Applies to bets placed on Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place markets.
Does not apply to Ante-Post bets and Tote/Pari-Mutuel (bets and dividends).
Bets can be paid for from either your Withdrawable Balance or Bet Credits. Bets placed from your Withdrawable Balance will be refunded to your Withdrawable Balance and bets placed with Bet Credits will be refunded as Bet Credits.
