SOMERSBY is likely to turn out for the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton this Sunday.

After having chased home a resurgent Sprinter Sacre in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance last month, West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon’s veteran ran another solid race when fourth in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

He could now clash with Sprinter Sacre and Tingle Creek hero Sire De Grugy at Kempton before being put away until the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, a race in which he has finished second for the last two years.

Channon said: “He’s fine and I think we’ll probably run him in the Desert Orchid at Kempton.

“I know Sprinter Sacre is going there, but there’s not a lot else for him.”

Channon was in philosophical mood after seeing his charge, The Blue Bomber, demoted from first place in the Lingfield photo-finish fiasco.

The judge originally called the three-year-old the winner by a nose only to reverse the placings five days later, awarding the race to Quarenta, after being asked to reconsider his decision by the British Horseracing Authority.

Channon said: “I still think our horse won, but the judge is adamant the other horse won, so that’s that.”

Coneygree's chances of defending his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown look increasingly unlikely after the star of Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables suffered a hock injury.

He has been removed from the betting for chasing’s blue riband in March.