The Weekend Preview - 3rd/4th December

This weekend takes host to a whole group of superstars making their seasonal reappearances in what looks to be a high class and exciting weekend of racing action, headlined by action at Sandown on Saturday, featuring two Grade 1’s.

The Betfair Tingle Creek - 2:55

The feature race at Sandown this Saturday is the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. First run in 1969, the formerly known Benson and Hedges Gold Cup was renamed in 1979 to the Tingle Creek, in honour of the 1970’s star Chaser, after a short spell of being named the Mecca Bookmakers’ Handicap Chase.

Previous winners consist of Paul Nicholls superstar Kauto Star, 7-time Grade 1 winner Flagship Uberalles and two-time Champion Chase winning Sprinter Sacre.

This year’s renewal sees Nicky Henderson’s top 2-mile chaser Shishkin head the betting, as the Even Money favourite, set to run 262 days after he was last seen being pulled up in the Champion Chase last March.

His previous season form (barring his Queen Mother Champion Chase run) would have to make him a much shorter price, for he was seen winning the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton by ten lengths, with a chasing Greaneteen behind, as well victory in the Clarence House Chase, taking down the then soon to become Champion Chase winner Energumene in a thrilling contest.

Whilst his past run puts a slight doubt into the mind as to whether he is the same horse he has shown in the past, there is no indication to suggest he can’t return to his absolute best, which would be more than enough to beat the cohort lining up against him in this season’s contest.

Second in the market is the Paul Nicholls trained, and last year’s winner of the race Greaneteen. At 2/1 in the market, the 8-year-old looks to be Shishkin’s biggest danger in the field, especially given the fact that all 3 of Greaneteen’s Grade 1 wins have come at the venue for this race, Sandown Park.

Greaneteen made his seasonal reappearance last month, in a very comfortable 7 length win in a Grade 2 Limited Handicap Chase at Exeter. Saturday will be a much tougher test for Greaneteen however, but it is one he can most definitely live up to given his incredible course and distance form.

At 7/1 in the market is the Alan King trained Edwardstone, who was last year’s Arkle winner and Maghull Novices’ Chase runner up. His seasonal reappearance has had to wait following his withdrawal from both the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, and the Jim Barry Wines Hurst Park Hanidcap Chase at Ascot due to ground concerns.

Despite not running in a race with this level of competition before, he has more than the credentials needed to compete, whilst his previous form suggests he could be a serious contender.

The Youngest horse in the field is the Willie Mullins trained 6-year-old Gentleman De Mee. He capped last season off in fine style, winning the Maghull Novices’ Chase at the Aintree Festival by a comfortable 4 and a half lengths, with Edwardstone in second.

He made his seasonal reappearance last month, where he unseated his rider as a result of interference cause by the falling Coeur Sublime when beaten after the last, and needs to improve again to cause an upset to those at the top of the market this Saturday

The Close Brothers Henry Viii Novices’ Chase – 1:45

The Tingle Creek however, is not the only Grade 1 action we are treated to this Saturday at Sandown, for the Henry Viii Novices’ Chase takes place just over an hour before the feature race of the day. Former winners of the race include Altior (2016) and Tingle Creek runner Edwardstone (2021), who won the race this time last year.

Heading the market for this year’s exciting renewal is the unbeaten chaser Jonbon. Jonbon’s only defeat came in the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, and has made the switch to the larger obstacles for this season, partly as a result of the decision to keep stablemate Constitution Hill over hurdles.

Nevertheless, Jonbon looks to have taken to fences well, winning in his chasing debut at Wawrick last month in a very comfortable seven length demolishing of past Grade 1 winner Monmiral. Jonbon is currently priced at 4/11 for this event, and looks more than capable of performing even better than that we saw of him last time out.

He faces three rivals in his bid to retain his unbeaten chasing record, most notably Boothill of the Harry Fry yard. Priced at 7/2, Boothill was last seen winning nicely in a gutsy performance to take the top prize in the Jim Barry Wines Hurst Park Handicap Chase, where he beat the likes of So Scottish and Before Midnight.

On form alone however, none of the field taking on the favourite should have anything near to the class of the Nicky Henderson trained 6-year-old, for if he is up to the standard he set last time out, he looks very likely to justify his very short price.

Action at Fairyhouse

Away from action domestically this weekend, Fairyhouse looks to host its own set of stars in its two-day meeting, headlined by the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, with the return of the dual Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle.

Having not been beaten in all her 16 starts, Honeysuckle looks likely to retain her winning ways by taking on a field of 7 in the 2:30 this Sunday, with the most notable challenger being two-time Punchestown Champion Stayers Hurdle winner Klassical Dream.

That is not all Fairyhouse has to offer this Sunday however, as exciting Novice Hurdler Champ Kiely looks to maintain his unbeaten under rules record by taking on a field of 7, whilst Arkle prospect Banbridge looks to heighten the excitement surrounding him in the 1:55 for the Joseph O’Brien team, taking on a field of 10, including the Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle winner Three Stripe Life.

Action at Fairyhouse is also boosted by the return of Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion Bumper winner Facile Vega. The 5-year-old son of Quevega is unbeaten in his racing career, winning all 4 of his races last season. He is set to make his highly anticipated hurdling debut in the second division of two maiden hurdles taking place at 13:52 on Fairyhouse’s Saturday card.