Run over 2m the Betfair-sponsored Tingle Creek Chase is staged at Sandown Park racecourse and this year (2017) run on 9th December. The Grade One Chase is always seen as a good guide to the Queen Mother Champion Chase run at the Cheltenham Festival later in the season – with Master Minded (2008), Moscow Flyer (2004), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Sire de Grugy (2013) & Dodging Bullets (2014) the last horses to do the Tingle Creek/Champion Chase double in the same season at the Cheltenham Festival.
The 2019 Tingle Creek Chase was won by the Philip Hobbs-trained Defi Du Seuil – the second win in the race for the trainer after also winning it in 2001 with Flagship Uberalles.
Here at RACING AHEAD we take a look back at recent winners and gives you the key Tingle Creek trends to look out for ahead of the 2020 renewal – this year run on Saturday 5th December.
Recent Tingle Creek Winners
2019 – DEFI DU SEUIL (2/1 fav)
2018 – ALTIOR (8/13 fav)
2017 – POLITOLOGUE (7/2)
2016 – UN DE SCEAUX (5/4 fav)
2015 – SIRE DE GRUGY (10/3)
2014 – DODGING BULLETS (9/1)
2013 – SIRE DE GRUGY (7/4 jfav)
2012 – SPRINTER SACRE (4/11 fav)
2011 – SIZING EUROPE (11/8 fav)
2010 – MASTER MINDED (10/11 fav)
2009 – TWIST MAGIC (9/4)
2008 – MASTER MINDED (4/7 fav)
2007 – TWIST MAGIC (5/1)
2006 – KAUTO STAR (4/9 fav)
2005 – KAUTO STAR (5/2 jfav)
2004 – MOSCOW FLYER (2/1)
2003 – MOSCOW FLYER (6/4 fav)
2002 – CENKOS (6/1)
Tingle Creek Chase Trends
17/18 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
17/18 – Aged 9 or younger
16/18 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
15/18 – Had won a Grade One chase before
15/18 – Winners that went onto run in that season's QM Champion Chase
14/18 – Placed favourites
14/18 – Aged between 5-8 years-old
14/18 – Had won at least 4 times over fences before
13/18 – French bred
13/18 – Officially rated 165 or higher
13/18 – Returned 5/2 or shorter in the betting
12/18 – Raced within the last 4 weeks
11/18 – Winning distance – 3 lengths or more
11/18 – Winning favourites (2 joint)
11/18 – Won last time out
10/18 – Had won a chase race at Sandown before
9/18 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
6/18 – Went onto win the Champion Chase (Altior, Dodging Bullets, Sire de Grugy, Sprinter Sacre, Master Minded & Moscow Flyer) at the Cheltenham Festival that season
1/18 – Went onto win the Gold Cup (Kauto Star) at the Cheltenham Festival that season
The average winning SP in the last 18 years is 5/2
Note: The 2010 renewal was staged at Cheltenham
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: All eyes here will be on the return of ALTIOR, who won this race in 2018. He's not getting any younger at 10, but for his age he's been fairly lightly-raced (24 runs) and more so in recent seasons. He missed the Festival late on last season with a niggle but is reported back to himself and being the top-rated runner that has a decent record fresh I'm happy to stick with him at his beloved Sandown. He's 5-from-5 here at the Esher track so we know it suits and the stiff uphill finish seems to bring out his best – just like at Cheltenham. His only blot over fences from 16 runs came at the hands of Cyrname last season at Ascot over the longer 2m5f trip so it's hard to knock his record. What was encouraging after that Ascot defeat though was that he bounced back to win at Newbury back in February in the Game Spirit – so hopefully he can return with another win here and it will be all systems go to the Festival after – he's around 6/1 for the Champion Chase in March. He won't have it all his own way though with the 2017 winner and current Champion Chaser – Politologue – in the race. But, for me, he's not the most consistent and despite clearly being capable of running well here, the fact he's won just one of his last seven means he's not for me. Rouge Vif and Greaneteen are the two up-and-coming chasers in the field and could have big seasons ahead. They both returned with wins too and even though they've a bit to make up at the ratings are young enough to do so. Of the pair, I think the Nicholls-trained GREANETEEN – looks the most interesting. As we know the yard have a top record in this race – winning it 9 times in the last 18 years – and this 6 year-old could be ready to make his mark. He's got age on his side and should be a lot fitter for his return win at Exeter in the Haldon Gold Cup last month. The likely softer ground here will be in his favour and the fact Nicholls is ready to step him up to this level suggests he thinks he's capable of running well. Brewin'upastorm and the Irish raider Castlegrace Paddy make up the six runners. I think Brewin'upastorm is clearly better than his last run on heavy ground, but with rain on the cards he might not get his favoured better ground here either. He's one to note later in the season when conditions might get dryer.
