Tingle Creek Chase 2023

Jonbon will face three rivals in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase over two miles at Sandown.

Here’s my runner guide, tips, and prediction for Sandown’s big race.

Tingle Creek Chase Runners Guide

Edwardstone

  • Trainer: Alan King
  • Jockey: Tom Cannon
  • Form: 21U252
  • Official ratings: 165
  • Odds: 9/2

 

Last year’s winner was comfortably held by Jonbon on his return in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last month, but maybe the lack of a run played a major factor in the way he was left behind after travelling well. Still, he ran a good, solid race, and what is really beneficial is his track knowledge because he’s a dual Grade 1 winner over course and distance.

The manner in which he put ninth-lengths between himself and the former winner of the contest, Greaneteen, was impressive. Also, his latest reappearance effort overshadowed his disappointment in the Champion Chase, while his second in the Clarence House Chase, when splitting Editeur Du Gite and Energumene, confirmed he’s still a major force in this division.

The option was there for him to step up in distance, but this time around, compared to last year, he has a run under his belt, and it’s interesting to see Alan King persevering with him over the minimum distance. He has work to do to reverse his latest form with Jonbon, but it’s difficult to see him not putting up a good show in his defence bid.

Haddex Des Obeaux

  • Trainer: Gary Moore
  • Jockey: Jack Tudor
  • Form: 1U211F
  • Official ratings: 150
  • Odds: 12/1

 

He is the youngest and lowest-rated runner in the race, but his trainer, Gary Moore, has enjoyed great success in this race over the years, particularly with Sire De Grugy, and there should be a lot more to offer from this six-year-old who has had just five starts over fences and is the least exposed.

This will be by far his toughest test to date, but he will handle the conditions, mostly jumps well, and would have gone close to completing a hat-trick of consecutive wins, but for his unfortunate departure at the final fence at Cheltenham in October when still in front. He looks out of his depth at this level, though, and is passed over.

Jonbon

  • Trainer: Nicky Henderson
  • Jockey: Nico de Boinville
  • Form: 112111
  • Official ratings: 170
  • Odds: 3/10

 

With such an unwavering progressive profile and only one defeat to his name over fences to date, which came at the hands of El Fabiolo in the Arkle when second, Nicky Henderson’s high-class, four-time Grade 1 winner, who has 11 wins from 13 starts, should be difficult to beat in spite of the potential testing ground and a better performance anticipated from Edwardstone.

His trainer has won this twice in the last five seasons, with odds-on favourites (Sprinter Sacre 2021) and Altior (2018), and the top-rated runner, who is rated 170, has an excellent chance to imitate the pair. Similar to Edwardstone, he is unbeaten in two starts over course-and-distance, with both of those wins coming at the highest level as well.

Both his wins here have come in Grade 1 races, and he made an excellent return to action at Cheltenham last month when beating Edwardstone, Nube Negra, and Editeur Du Gite in the Shloer Chase, while he also beat Boothill eight lengths in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at the meeting last year. Despite his restricted odds, he’s difficult to oppose.

Nube Negra

  • Trainer: Dan Skelton
  • Jockey: Harry Skelton
  • Form: 4312P3
  • Official ratings: 158
  • Odds: 40/1

 

A good horse on his day for the Skeltons, who has two wins in the Shloer Chase as well as a high-profile victory over the great Altior. He has taken the scalp of some great horses, but might have been flattered in a few of those, as his main rivals were on a slight decline at the time.

It’s slightly alarming that he has raced sparingly in recent seasons and doesn’t look the same force he was two seasons ago when he finished a close-up second in the Champion Chase. The nine-year-old was also well beaten behind Jonbon last time at Cheltenham.

It is therefore hard to see him turning the form around with Jonbon, especially on a track that has yet to get the best out of him. He will be fine under the soft conditions and will get the strong pace he needs, but a major revival is needed. Others are preferred on that basis.

Tingle Creek Chase Tips & Prediction

El Fabiolo might be the best two-mile chaser in Ireland, but JONBON could prove to be the best of the British-trained runners this season and will be hard to beat. Despite his short odds, this top-class nine-year-old, who has beaten several of these before, has every chance of doing so again.

However, an alternative bet could be last year’s hero, EDWARDSTONE (best price 11/10) in the w/o Jonbon market. Alan King’s star chaser is expected to improve a lot from his comeback second behind Jonbon and bridge the gap this weekend.

He is unbeaten at this course, performs well on most surfaces and on paper, he is the biggest danger to the favourite if he can perform to his best. He still remains the clear second-highest-rated runner in the field and should be more than capable of at least finishing in the top two.

Edwardstone w/o Jonbon - 2pts @ 11/10