El Fabiolo is the odds-on favourite to bounce back from his Cheltenham Festival disappointment by winning the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday afternoon.
The Champion Chase in March was supposed to be a mere formality for the 2/9 shot, but a crucial mistake at the fifth fence saw El Fabiolo sprawl on landing before being pulled up by Paul Townend.
A first defeat over fences was one of the most surprising Cheltenham Festival results in recent times, with the path clear for Rachael Blackmore to claim the honours on board Captain Guinness.
It was back to the drawing board for Willie Mullins who has resisted the temptation to target the Punchestown Festival by instead opting for an intriguing race which forms part of the bet365 Jump Finale card.
The multiple Grade 1 winner will need a much-improved jumping performance to return to winning ways, but if he can replicate his display in February's Dublin Chase at Leopardstown then he should take all the beating.
bet365 Celebration Chase Odds
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El Fabiolo's shock defeat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase was one of the shocks at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and it will be interesting to see how he recovers going forward.
bet365 News Team
23 Mar 24
