Sandown races end another calendar year with its two-day Betfair Tingle Creek Festival fixture on Friday, 6 and Saturday, 7 December. Jonbon defending his crown in the meeting’s eponymous race is the highlight over the two days.
Things kick off at the Esher venue on Friday with two Grade 2 races. While the Esher Novices’ Chase was a new edition to the pattern programme last season, the Winter Novices’ Hurdle is an established trial for other races later in the campaign.
Saturday is when the action goes up a notch with the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and Tingle Creek Chase itself. Supporting those events are the old December Handicap Hurdle, London National over fences and a Listed novice hurdle.
In other words, there’s a lot going on for traders on horse racing betting sites to price up. This is where our experts come in. Their race by race analysis of this two-day meeting should hopefully reveal a few winners along the way…
Sandown Races Friday Preview – Betfair Tingle Creek Festival Day 1
12:48 – 2m Class 2 Introductory Juvenile Hurdle
Hot Fuss must also have claims of going one better himself for Tom Dascombe. This Flat convert chased home subsequent Cheltenham Grade 2 winner and current ante post Triumph Hurdle favourite East India Dock at Wincanton.
Gary & Josh Moore duo Galactic Charm and Small Fry both have ratings of 80 on the level. Anthony Charlton also runs Marhaba Million alongside See The Green with Sean Bowen booked for the former. Haydock Flat scorer Melon completes the line-up for Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero.
1:23 – 1m 7f 99y Class 3 Handicap Chase
The market suggests Venetia Williams runner Intimate is the danger receiving 11lb, but this is his bow over fences. Invincible Nao has only won one race for the Moores and on pedigree wants further, yet did finish second in a Premier Handicap for novices here in March.
Lucinda Russell veteran Mint Gold has been largely consistent over the last 12 months or so when completing. He looks vulnerable to younger legs, though. There’s little to recommend Micky Hammond inmate Trac or bottom weight Calgary Tiger, though.
1:58 – 2m 3f 173y Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle
A competitive edition of the co-feature on day 1 of the Betfair Tingle Creek Festival at Sandown races with three Exeter bumper winners at head of the market. Each has claims, but BILL JOYCE looks value with online bookmakers to confirm Cheltenham form with Quebecois for Jonjo O’Neill and sons.
The selection is unbeaten racing right-handed and seems to have better overall form than Paul Nicholls’ charge. Ditcheat seeks a record-extending sixth win in the Winter Novices’ Hurdle if Quebecois can reverse Champion Bumper placings with Bill Hoyce Kingston Pride is an obvious threat for the Nicky Henderson stable after Uttoxeter success.
Admiral Stewart goes up in trip following his Ffos Las victory from the front. Jamie Snowden’s charge must improve to get in amongst the big boys here, however. Similar comments apply to Skelton’s course bumper third and Exeter winner Pony Soprano, whose form has been franked. James Owen handicapper Ballytechno also has more on his plate here.
2:33 – 3m 37y Grade 2 Esher Novices’ Chase
Resplendent Grey faces plenty of dangers at Sandown races though, and Ben Pauling’s solution to the fall taken by Handstands is to step him up in trip. Provided he’s no worse for his Wincanton tumble, then this should be within his compass. If that one’s jumping doesn’t stand up to the test posed by the Railway Fences, others also have claims.
Wetherby winner Cadell could make up into an even better chaser after winning two British Points earlier in his career. Russell sends him all the way down from Scotland, so connections must be having a go after the assessor upped his rating by a whole stone for that West Yorkshire success at the Charlie Hall meeting.
Nicholls won inaugural edition of the Esher Novices’ Chase last year with Stay Away Fay. Welcom To Cartries makes his bow over fences in the contest this time around. He wants this trip and fences, but lacks race experience in this sphere. Similar comments apply to course Heroes Handicap Hurdle winner Saint Davy.
3:03 – 3m 37y Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-130)
A trappy contest where PASSING WELL might go one better than November’s course second at Sandown races now upped in trip. Snowden’s charge stayed into second up the hill over 2m 4f, but looks worth trying over further again. Passing Well isn’t reliable by any means with jockey Gavin Sheehan often giving his mount too much to do.
Jane Williams has a danger in dual Exeter scorer Jupiter Allen. He has only ever won right-handed and the form of his latest success off 5lb lower was franked when the ill-fated Abuffalosoldier won a Premier Handicap at Cheltenham. Hoe Joly Smoke chased home Resplendent Grey last time out, but hasn’t been the easiest for Team Skelton to train.
First-time cheekpieces might help Beachcomber, who improved on his Chepstow third around Exeter, to make it third time lucky over fences for the O’Neill family. The market also suggests King’s Threshold and veteran Tea Clipper both have chances, but are difficult horses to catch right.
3:35 – 2m Class 4 Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (0-120)
While Cavern Club should confirm form with Nicholls inmate Fasol, handicap debutant I Wish You could pose a bigger threat. He went down by the same margin to Wreckless Eric at Wetherby last term off level weights and has since scored for Russell around Carlisle.
The Moores run two at Sandown races where they like having winners, so French import and topweight Kissman and Authentic Legacy aren’t opposed lightly. Those lower in the handicap must improve on their achievements so far just to get into the frame. Razzle Dazzle Boy, like Fasol, has something to find on Cheltenham form with the selection.
Sandown Races Saturday Preview – Betfair Tingle Creek Festival Day 2
12:08 – Listed 2m Claremont Novices’ Hurdle
Hartington faces competition that hasn’t jumped a hurdle in public yet here. Juby Ball comes from a bumper background and did little wrong in two starts in that sphere for Evan Williams. Cresta Cat is a Flat convert from the Moore stable, meanwhile, at one of the yard’s favourite tracks.
Admiral Stewart is in the Winter Novices’ Hurdle on Friday as well, while French recruit Epinephrine is of interest for Venetia Williams despite a lengthy racecourse absence. Course bumper winner and Skelton mare Honky Tonk Highway may have been beaten by a useful one last time out and bids to go one better getting weight all-round.
12:40 – 2m 3f 173y Class 3 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (0-125)
If Larchmont Lass can’t follow-up, then handicap hurdle debutante Dollar Collar may be an interesting alternative. Yet another coming down from Scotland for Russell, she chased home the now 129-rated Alnilam at Kelso on her only previous outing over the smaller obstacles. Dollar Collar didn’t take to fences last time out, but could be feasibly handicapped off 119.
Anthony Honeyball won this event a couple of years ago and his Good Luck Charm ran her best races before springtime last term. She landed the Richard Barber at Wincanton in 2023 off 8lb lower, but hit the frame in a number of subsequent handicaps including a good third from out of the weights around Cheltenham, then fourths in the Lanzarote and Heroes here.
1:15 – 2m 7f 98y Class 2 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Series Qualifier
Henri The Second will surely strip fitter for his reappearance and, given he’s out of the same dam as Ditcheat stablemate Enrilo, will have no problem getting this trip for Nicholls. Fellow course winners Operation Manna, who won this 12 months ago, and West To The Bridge, despite his advanced years, are rivals to fear, meanwhile.
Dubrovnik Harry, third in the Heroes Handicap Hurdle over course and distance when last in action, could also have a say in the finish off 1lb higher if fully tuned up for his return to action after 308 days off. Snowden pair Super Survivor and Up For Parol are also interesting with both making their reappearances.
1:50 – 1m 7f 99y Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase
Down Memory Lane beat three pretty useful horses from the front in his beginners chase around Navan last month. Touch Me Not isn’t opposed lightly after his own impressive Grade 2 Craddockstown success at Punchestown. Rubaud is in very deep water for his bow over fences conceding experience to that trio.
L’Eau Du Sud won the Arkle Trial nicely, but the calibre of Irish horse he beat there is a notch or two below these. Soul Icon, continually so highly-tried for a maiden over fences, really does have it all to do. The Henry VIII Novices’ Chase should go for export this year.
2:25 – 2m Class 2 Betfair Plays Different Handicap Hurdle (Registered as the December) (0-150)
An opening handicap mark of 130 for Henderson’s Willmount looks a bit of a guess, so the four-year-olds may present dangers. Kabral Du Mathan hasn’t done anything wrong for Nicholls, while Royal Way didn’t give his true running in the Greatwood. The Moores also have last year’s winner Spirit D’Aunou back for more off 4lb higher.
Defying topweight and a mark of 150 looks a tall order for Nemean Lion, while Altobelli completes the obvious contenders. In strict handicapping terms, Harry Fry’s charge should reverse Ascot form off 8lb better terms with the selection, but it’s not certain he will find over four lengths up the famous Esher hill.
3:00 – 1m 7f 99y Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase
While it’s easy to pass over old rivals like Boothill and Edwardstone, the market suggests Quilixios as the biggest danger. Henry De Bromhead’s charge finished behind Master Chewy at Aintree, however, so that brings Nigel Twiston-Davies’ runner, a notable spare ride for Harry Cobden, into calculations.
The concern with Quilixios is he hasn’t won anywhere else but Naas and Limerick over fences and just the one career success out of Ireland since moving there. JPR One could be a potential improver off the back of his Haldon Gold Cup success last time out, but his jumping didn’t stand up to the test of Sandown steeplechasing as a novice.
On a form line through Found A Fifty and thus compared to Master Chewy, Solness might be overpriced for Joseph O’Brien. He’s the youngest in the Tingle Creek line-up aged six and may have most potential for further improvement. The seven-year-olds also have scope for this too, but Jonbon has half-a-stone and upwards in hand on the field, according to official figures.
3:35 – 3m 4f 146y Class 2 London National Handicap Chase (0-150)
Jordan Nailor gets on well with this Twiston-Davies runner and the shorter trip around Carlisle on reappearance was no good to him. Top Of The Bill may be difficult to peg back if he gets into a rhythm over the Railway Fences. Tommie Beau, so unlucky to run out in a Cheltenham Cross Country last month, and last year’s third Certainly Red also have runs under the belt.
Lydia Richards’ veteran scored here when last in action, but also has been declared for the Welsh Grand National Trial. Certainly Red likes Sandown and could make the frame here if it’s his first preference. Another fit runner to consider is Southern National winner Unanswered Prayers, up 4lb for father-son duo Chris and Freddie Gordon.
Of those returning to action, National Hunt Chase third Mr Vango and Venetia’s Montgomery are worth closer looks. Nicholls runner Broken Halo didn’t have much luck at Sandown races last term, but could make amends for falling two out 12 months ago. The selection’s old rival Collectors Item must prove his stamina beyond 3m.
