Saturday 4th December 2021

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Author: Jordan Yates (@EvRacing_)

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“A warm welcome to this week’s preview where I’ll be taking a look at the Grade One feature that takes place at Sandown Park, which is none other than the Tingle Creek Chase. As well as previewing the big race itself, I’ll be sharing my other fancies in the ITV races throughout the afternoon.”

– Jordan

The Tingle Creek is set to take place at Sandown this Saturday at 2:25 and is a Grade 1 chase that’s contested over a distance of a mile and seven and a half furlongs. This year’s renewal of the race see’s an Irish raider heading the betting in the form of Chacun Pour Soi for Willie Mullins. The nine-year-old is currently trading at around even money and arrives here boasting an already illustrious CV with many Grade 1s to note. The most recent of these came at Punchestown where he bolted up in the Champion Chase, bouncing back from a disappointing effort in the Cheltenham equivalent where he finished third despite going off the odds-on favourite.

The best of the British looks to come in the form of Nube Negra for the Skelton’s who’s currently the 11/4 second favourite in the race. He was last seen when winning the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last month in decisive fashion, getting the better of Politologue by the best part of six lengths. He’s yet to taste Grade 1 success but he often runs big races in top-level events and his time will surely come soon. Paul Nicholls is represented by two runners in the race, and these come in the form of Greaneteen and Hitman. Greaneteen will once again team up with old friend Bryony Frost, and is no stranger to success at Sandown having won the Grade 1 Celebration Chase here in April when lowering the colours of Altior. Concluding the field is another Irish raider in Captain Guinness for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He made his return to the track earlier last month when impressively taking the Grade 3 Poplar Square Chase at Naas by just shy of five lengths.

Race Verdict:

Whilst Cheltenham form puts a few of these pretty close to one another, I find it hard to get away from Chacun Pour Soi here who’s by far the class horse in the race. He’s a serial Grade One winner who looked mightily impressive in all of his outings last season barring his Cheltenham blip, in particular on his most recent outing where he smashed a Grade 1 field at Punchestown, which included Nube Negra. There are a few questions surrounding his finishing ability, and he does have another hill to contend with here, but I think his sheer class should see him over the line against this lot. One that could be overpriced I think is Hitman at the 14/1 mark, I think there’s a lot more to come from him and just tired late on the Haldon Gold Cup last time. I think he could run a big race.