Tingle Creek – odds and tips

Tingle Creek day at Sandown is always one of the highlights of the jumps season and – subject to the attentions of Storm Darragh – eight runners are set to go to post for the big one on Saturday..

That is a bigger turnout than is typically the case for this Grade 1 chase, which demands slick jumping at speed to stay in contention. Just four went in 2023.

Our expert has picked out a pair to follow for this historic two-mile contest that has been landed in recent years by fencing greats such as Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Un De Sceaux. 

Tingle Creek – all odds courtesy of Coral

• Jonbon @ 8/15
• Quilixios @ 6/1
• Edwardstone @ 7/1
• Boothill @ 14/1
• Jpr One @ 14/1
• Master Chewy @ 16/1
• Solness @ 25/1
• Unexpected Party @ 80/1

Selection: Quilixios @ 6/1 with Coral
Next best: Jonbon @ 8/15 with Coral 

Irish raider has right credentials

There was plenty to like about the winning return of QUILIXIOS in the Barberstown Castle Chase at Naas on November 10 and he gave the impression he would be ideally suited to the Tingle Creek with that performance.

This Maxios gelding jumped superbly to make every yard in a good time under Darragh O’Keeffe and should be even more at home going right-handed at Sandown. The runner he easily brushed aside, Marine Nationale, was odds-on and received 4lb. At one point the French Navy gelding was considered one of Ireland’s brightest two-milers, so it seems pertinent to respect what the victor achieved.

It has taken Quilixios, an inmate of Henry de Bromhead, some time to get back to the level that let him dominate the juvenile hurdling division a few seasons ago. But he appears to have found his niche now as a bold-jumping, front-running chaser over this length of trip, and the seven-year-old will surely appreciate the softer ground at Sandown more than the good going at Naas.

He is described as a strong-staying two-miler by De Bromhead and I agree with that. Stamina may be required in the conditions and this second-term chaser is open to further improvement over fences.

The trainers’ two-mile chasers in Britain are always worthy of respect, and our selection could get one or two out of their comfort zone early on if he can again step forward from his Naas outing.

Selection: Quilixios @ 6/1 with Coral

Last year’s winner is obvious favourite

JONBON is rightly an odds-on shot for the Tingle Creek and landed it in good style in 2023.

He often reserves his best performances for Sandown and his profile suggests he is around half a stone superior at the Esher track than at Cheltenham.

Despite his stranglehold over the field at this stage, Jonbon suffered a short-priced reverse a few starts back in the Clarence House when getting the fourth-last all wrong. A similar mistake would be costly at the Surrey venue, and there are a few new rivals for the Walk In the Park gelding to overcome.

His supremacy over old foes Boothill and Edwardstone was less apparent in the Shloer on his return than it usually is, and on Racing Post ratings that was Jonbon’s weakest performance since his novice days.

If Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old can step forward from that comeback at Cheltenham while producing a polished jumping display – and nothing among his opposition improves to the tune of 7lb – he will be tough to stop.

The fact that he stays further is no bad thing in what is a potentially attritional affair.

Selection: Jonbon @ 8/15 with Coral