AA reaction to Gordon Elliott’s declare previous this week that British running shoes spend an excessive amount of time “ducking and diving” with their perfect horses within the first few months of the season, Saturday’s Tingle Creek at Sandown may just infrequently were timed any higher.
With the only exception of Nube Negra, the most efficient two-milers that Britain can muster are because of move to submit in entrance of a large pre-Christmas crowd on Saturday, together with Shishkin, the winner of an epic Clarence House Chase at Ascot remaining February , and his successor as the highest two-mile newbie, Alan King’s Edwardstone.
They face Greaneteen, remaining 12 months’s Tingle Creek winner, and every other of remaining season’s Grade One-winning inexperienced persons in Gentleman Du Mee, and even though Energumene, the Champion Chase winner in March, is lacking, the shape is represented via Funambule Sivola, the runner-up. up.
Paul Nicholls, Greaneteen’s instructor, has already landed a document 12 wins within the Tingle Creek, with exceptional champions together with Kauto Star and Master Minded. He leapt to the protection of Britain’s running shoes following Elliott’s feedback previous this week – forcing the Racing Post to achieve for the asterisks when reporting his reaction – however was once no longer susceptible to stir the pot any more after profitable the principle race at Sandown on Friday with Henri To set up The Second.
“It’s a proper race, proper horses and it’s going to be exciting,” Nicholls stated. “Shishkin at his very, very best is a smart horse and he’ll be hard to beat, and he beat us last year [in the Desert Orchid Chase] at Kempton, but Kempton and Sandown are two very different things.
“Gordon and me are mates and we’d both laugh at it, to be honest I was doing something about the Tingle Creek, Gordon was talking to someone [else] and it got taken out of all context, so we’ve been winding each other up about it all week. Us in particular, we run the horses wherever, I might run three or even four in the King George [at Kempton on Boxing Day]So we definitely don’t duck and dive at all.”
Shishkin’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, has a little more form when it comes to last-minute scratchings, but he is too content to pitch in his horse against the best around, nine months on from a bitterly disappointing run when odds-on favorite for the To install Champion Chase.
Shishkin was subsequently found to be suffering from a bone condition but has been nursed back to full fitness and goes into Saturday’s race as second-favourite for the Champion Chase next March.
“We had a mega-problem after Cheltenham but I’m confident that is behind us,” Henderson stated this week. “You have were given to pray we’ve were given the Shishkin that was once at Ascot for that epic combat with Energumene which was once the race of the season. If he’s again to that, we can be very aggressive, I am hoping.”
Saturday’s TV racing preview
The having a bet means that it’s round 1-4 that both Shishkin or Greaneteen will win the Tingle Creek, however this can be a deeper race than the percentages indicate and Funambule Sivola (2.55) might be a very good each-way choice to the marketplace leaders.
Venetia Williams’s seven-year-old has possibly been lost sight of as a result of he labored his means up the ranks as a handicapper, however he’s six-for-nine in chases at round two miles and publish a brand new career-best to complete lower than 9 lengths in the back of Energumene within the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.
Funambule Sivola traveled like a Grade One horse for far of the best way there, has long past neatly contemporary up to now and may just give backers a large run for his or her cash at round 20-1.
Aintree 1.30: A powerful renewal of this Grade Two, with Ahoy Senor, one in all remaining season’s perfect staying newbie chasers, having a look to catch up on an extraordinary unhappiness on his go back to motion at Wetherby remaining month. His fighters come with Noble Yeats, remaining season’s Grand National winner, however at round 8-1, the worth may just lie with Anthony Honeyball’s Sam Browne, He received a precious handicap chase over monitor and travel on the National assembly. He was once handiest 4 lengths in the back of Bravemansgame within the Charlie Hall remaining time – and greater than 30 lengths in entrance of Ahoy Senor.
Sandown 1.45: Jonbon, a Grade One winner over hurdles remaining season, confronted simply two fighters on his chase debut in November however received in such taste that he’s already the transparent favourite for subsequent 12 months’s Arkle Trophy on the Festival. Boothill guarantees to place up extra resistance right here however will nonetheless wish to to find various growth to bother the odds-on favorite.
Aintree 2.05: A 23-strong box is the second-largest this century for this three-and-a-quarter-mile take a look at over the Grand National fences, and Gesskille appears certain to run a large race after a very good debut over those distinctive hindrances on the Grand Sefton remaining month. The six-year-old went down via a nostril having taken to the problem like a herbal and the step up in travel right here will have to deliver additional growth.
Sandown 2.20: Donald McCain’s Nayati Has made fast strides since coming back from nearly 3 years off the monitor in September and might be as much as defying a 6lb upward push for a up to date win at Bangor.
Aintree 2.40: Knight In Dubai is calmly raced for a nine-year-old and have been off for 10 months sooner than his shut moment at Bangor remaining month. Dan Skelton’s chaser has a large likelihood at round 6-1 if he can construct on that run from only a 1lb upper mark.
Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Saturday guidelines
display
wetherby
11.40 Goshhowposh 12.13 William Cody 12.48 Imperial Storm 1.23 Grange Ranger 1.58 Lebowski 2.33 Tango Boy 3.08 Amarbelle’s Dream
Aintree
11.45 Etalon 12.20 Brandy McQueen 12.55 Dixon Cove 1.30 Sam Brown 2.05 Gesskille (nap) 2.40 Knight In Dubai 3.15 Herbiers
Chepstow
11.53 Lanspark 12.27 Galudon 1.02 Dalamoi 1.37 Secret Investor 2.12 Iron Bridge 2.47 Knowsley Road 3.22 Bohemian Lad
Sandown Park
12.00 Authorized Speed 12.35 West Balboa 1.10 Halo Des Obeaux 1.45 Jonbon 2.20 Nayati 2.55 Funambule Sivola 3.30 Quick Wave (nb)
Wolverhampton
5.20 Bora Bora 5.50 Mighty River 6.20 Vespasian 6.50 Looking For Lynda 7.20 Base Note 7.50 Sunstone 8.20 Queen Of Ipanema
Aintree 3.15: Herbiers is hard and dependable, and whilst he’s racing off a career-high mark of 138 right here, the type of his six-length win at Newbury remaining month – on his first get started since a wind op – suggests he has a vital likelihood to observe up at round 8-1.
Sandown 3.30: Venetia Williams’s Quickwave Shrugged off a 10-month absence to win her handiest get started remaining season very easily and the handicapper will have erred in elevating her via simply 7lb.
