Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase Sandown Guide 2023

Paul Nicholls has one in the bet365 Celebration Chase with nine-year-old Greaneteen, who arrives in decent nick having finished in the top three in all his last five races. Those races include winning this race last year, beating Sceau Royal by 12 lengths and winning the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.

He followed that Exeter success with a second-place finish in the Tingle Creek behind Edwardstone but was third in Grade Two Game Spirit Chase in February before third in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month.

Would be silly to dismiss the winner of this race two years in a row and he has every chance of making that three. Jonbon is a worthy favourite and will take some beating, though.

Nine-year-old Editeur Du Gite comes here in good form, winning Grade Two Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton in December before landing the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham in January, impressively beating Edwardstone and Energumene to glory. Disappointing fourth in the Champion Chase at last month’s Cheltenham festival but sure to do better here against rivals who finished ahead of him that day.

The nine-year-old arrives off a mark of 166 and while this will be tough to win, a positive for him is Energumene doesn’t run in this and Jonbon is running for the first time out of novice company, however, he looks hard to beat.

Venetia Williams sends one to this contest in the shape of Funambule Sivola, whose Cheltenham festival ended early last month when falling at the third fence in the Champion Chase won by Energumene. The gelding had gone into the festival on the back of winning Grade Two Game Spirit Chase at Newbury, winning it for the second year running but apart from that has been disappointing at this level.

The outsider here makes little appeal compared to the others who are in better form.

Henry De Bromhead sends Captain Guinness to this race having finished second in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month, ten lengths behind Energumene. He was also second behind Blue Lord in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown in December after winning grade two at Navan.

Likely to give another account here but in truth was never challenging Energumene for victory last time out and there’s a few in this contest who are likely to do better. Jonbon looks a good favourite.

Nicky Henderson’s top novice chaser Jonbon moves out of novice company here to compete in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday. The seven-year-old lost only once over hurdles, when finishing 22 lengths behind the unbeaten Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last year.

The gelding was sent chasing by Henderson this term and won his first three races over fences, at Warwick (twice) and here before finishing second, five and a half lengths to El Fabiolo in the Arkle at last month’s Cheltenham festival. Bounced back to win last time out in the Grade One Maghull Novices’ Chase by 43 lengths and arrives here as the one to beat on his first outing outside novice company.

There are others here that will make it tough for him, but he can rise to that here and make it five out of six over fences.