The withdrawal of Sprinter Sacre and Irish superstar Un De Sceaux has turned this Saturday’s Betfair Tingle Creek Chase into a more competitive affair if anything and each-way betting will still be available on the Grade 1 race if all eight of the declared runners stand their ground, despite the prospect of further rain.
Tingle Creek Chase History
First staged at Sandown in 1979 and named after a popular chaser of the 1970s, the Tingle Creek Chase attained Grade 1 status in 1994 and has been won by some of the top 2m chasers of their generation.
Nine horses have tasted victory more than once, although only Flagship Uberalles has gone on to complete a hat-trick. News King was triumphant for the jockey/trainer partnership of John Francome/Fred Winter in 1981 and 1982, Long Engagement did the double for the Brendan Powell/David Nicholson combination in 1987 and 1989 while Waterloo Boy was successful in 1991 and the following year for Richard Dunwoody and David Nicholson.
Sound Man gave Dunwoody two more victories in 1995 and 1996, this time for Edward O’Grady, while after the Flagship Uberalles treble it was the turn of the great Moscow Flyer in 2003 and 2004 for Barry Geraghty and Jessica Harrington.
The legendary Kauto Star had first Mick Fitzgerald and then Ruby Walsh in the saddle when landing the spoils in 2005 and 2006 and his trainer Paul Nicholls has won the race a record nine times in the last 15 years.
Bet365 are the only one of the major bookmakers offering one quarter the odds for each-way betting on this year’s Tingle Creek Chase and they have VIBRATO VALTAT as their 2/1 favourite to enhance Paul Nicholls’ brilliant record in the contest, though the grey is available at 9/4 in a few places.
It’s hard to argue with the bookmakers’ assessment as soft ground is key to this one and he has conditions at Sandown in his favour. He beat Third Intention on his reappearance in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and won the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase on this card 12 months ago, when it was also soft ground, and also landed Grade 2 contests at Kempton and Warwick. He was beaten by Special Tiara and the enigmatic Mr Mole in the Celebration Chase at Sandown in April but that came at the end of a long season on ground that was too quick.
Special Tiara might be the danger again, however, as evidence is still required over whether Simonsig or 2013 winner Sire De Grugy are the forces of old and Somersby has had chances to win this in the past and been found wanting. Josses Hill may not be quite good enough on what he’s shown so far.
Bet365 Odds for the Tingle Creek Chase
Vibrato Valtat (15/8), Simonsig (7/2), Special Tiara (9/2), Sire De Grugy (6/1), Somersby (10/1), Josses Hill (12/1), Mr Mole (14/1), Third Intention (25/1)
