We have another cracking chase fixture on Saturday to look at, and this is the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.
This is a Grade 1 run which features 4 year olds and above. There is a 1m 7 1/2f trip in play in this popular race.
For this year’s renewal there are 6 declared runners, and heading the market was Altior.
But on Friday he was pulled from action because of ground conditions.
That has blown the field wide open now, leaving POLITOLOGUE heading the market.
Last year’s winner was six year old DEFI DU SEUIL from a 2/1 SP (B J Geraghty / P J Hobbs).
Tingle Creek Chase Odds
Politologue 5/4
Greanteen 2/1
Rouge Vif 4/1
Brewin’upastorm 14/1
Castlegrace Paddy 14/1
* (betting odds correct as of 16:28 GMT on Friday, December 24th from Betfair).
Horse Racing Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Politologe the Tingle Creek Chase Fav after Altior pulls out
Will the big benefactor of Altior’s withdrawal be POLITOLOGUE who is the new 5/4 market leader* (betting odds correct as of 16:28 GMT on Friday, December 24th from Betfair).
This will be the first run of the new season for the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding.
He signed off last season on a highly positive note. That was in the Champions Chase in Narch at the Cheltenham Festival.
On that occasion Politologue didn’t have Altior around either and took full advantage.
He was the 2017 winner of this contest, so should put in another dominating performance back here.
Can Greaneteen build on positive season-start?
There was a wind or GREANTEEN on his reappearance run.
That was in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter where he found a nice extra gear at the right time to win. That was a Grade 2 fixture, securing the victory by a neck.
Greaneteen had been favourite for the tfixture. That’s three wins in his last four trips now.
That was a significant improvement from him last time out and is good enough to have a serious say in this one.
Greateneen is at 2/1 to collect the win* (betting odds correct as of 16:28 GMT on Friday, December 24th from Betfair).
Rouge Vif could make a big impression
Coming in as a 4/1 shot is ROGUE VIF and he looks to be a big threat* (betting odds correct as of 16:28 GMT on Friday, December 24th from Betfair).
He was brilliant on his return to action this season. That was a run at Cheltenham over a 2m trip where he crushed the field.
Rouge Vif got that score in October, beating out Western Miller by 8 lengths. It’s been three chase victories from 2m to 2m 2f on varying ground.
That was such an impressive statement made by him and if he can take things forward, then there is a way into him in this race.
Castlegrace Paddy with too much to do?
There was an excellent return to action for CASTLEGRACE PADDY this season.
He posted a win at Navan in a Grade 2 contest, putting everything together on the day to produce a stunning performance. That was from a 9/1 mark.
We think that he is still well below most of the quality that is showing up in this field.
But he retains his winning jockey and he was jumping very well at Navan. But there is a lot to make up in this division.
Predictions & Tips for Tingle Creek Chase Racing Odds
What a disappointment we won’t get to see Altior go up against Politologue as it was at the Cheltenham Festival.
Still we are faced with what is in front of us and that is likely a big advantage here for POLITOLOGUE.
He’s great on the course, having won this race before. He just dominated the Champion Chase at Cheltenham from start to finish, so we expect another strong performance from him.
We are also very interested in ROUGE VIF as we think that he has a lot more to offer.
He was thriving at Cheltenham last time out on his renewal and could bring a huge challenge to the table here as long as the ground doesn’t soften any further.
