River City to take double chance

River City is to have a busy April as trainer Noel Chance plans a rapid big-race double-header with his star two-miler.

The Kerrygold Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival is first on the agenda for the 10-year-old before he attempts back-to-back victories in Sandown’s Betfred Celebration Chase.

It is likely that several of his rivals in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the recent Cheltenham Festival, where he finished third behind Voy Por Ustedes and Dempsey, will be reopposing in one or both of those events.

“River City will go to Punchestown first and then if he’s OK we’ll run him again in the race he won last year at Sandown,” said Chance.

“There are only four or five days between the two races, but he should be OK and has come out of Cheltenham in perfect order.”