Betfair Tingle Creek Chase: guide to runners plus tip

There were plenty of raised eyebrows when JP McManus splashed out £570,000 to secure Jonbon about this time four years ago.

After all, his celebrated brother, Douvan, had won little more than that in prize money during his illustrious career and there was certainly no guarantee he would be anywhere near as good, with the only hint of his prowess coming in a humble point-to-point at Dromahane.

However, the “more money than sense” brigade have had to eat several large slices of humble pie. Jonbon is hot favourite to win a second Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park on Saturday and, should he triumph in the green and gold, then the now eight-year-old will have taken his career earnings beyond £1 million.

Throw in all the incalculable enjoyment and excitement that he will have given McManus in winning 15 of his 18 races, and that initial outlay of £570,000 is looking a shrewd bit of business. 

Back-to-back winners of the Tingle Creek have, though, become a rarity. No horse has retained his crown since Kauto Star in 2006, while Chacun Pour Soi (2021) and Fox Norton (2017) have been odds-on market leaders to fluff their lines in recent years.

Here's a guide to those left in the mix after the final declartions.

Official Rating: 160. Odds: 10-1. 

He chased home Jonbon in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at this meeting two years ago and trails that rival 3-0 in their personal battles. However, he got closer to him than ever before when going down by a length-and-a-half in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last time, albeit when in receipt of 2lb and without ever looking like getting past. It could be that he benefited from a wind op that day, and he’s entitled to finish somewhere near his old adversary. 

Official Rating: 163. Odds: 11-2. 

Was a brilliant winner of this race two years ago, having runaway with the Henry VIII Novices' Chase 12 months earlier. He’s clearly well served by the demands of Sandown, but he’s finished behind Jonbon four times during the past year or so, including when playing second fiddle to him in this race 12 months ago. Rising 11, it’s difficult to see how he can turn the tables, although connections could roll the dice and let him attack from the front, as they did when romping home in the Game Spirit last season. 

Official Rating: 170. Odds: 1-2. 

It’s hard to knock a horse who has won 15 of his 18 races, finishing second on the other three occasions (each time at Cheltenham). Moreover, he’s been flawless at Sandown, winning each of his four races at this venue, on ground ranging between good to soft to heavy. He was no more than workmanlike when mastering Edwardstone in this race last year, although the deep going probably didn’t show him to best advantage that day. He probably was not at his best, either, when repelling Boothill and Edwardstone on his return at Cheltenham last month, but the bottom line is that he still got the job done. If he can produce anything like his best form, then he will again take all the beating. 

Official Rating: 154. Odds: 10-1. 

“He is my future and he could go right to the top” said Joe Tizzard after the apple of his eye had won the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on his return last month. It was a slick display, although he’s a horse who has always gone well fresh and plenty were left thinking Djelo might have beaten him had his rider been vigorous a little earlier. JPR One needs to find another big chunk of improvement if he’s to ruffle the feathers of Jonbon (he’d be getting 16lb from him if this were a handicap) and was a subdued third in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase 12 months ago. 

Official Rating: 154. Odds: 20-1. 

Two wins from 17 races seems a poor return for a horse clearly blessed with his share of ability. He progressed well as a novice last season, having place claims when departing two out in the Arkle before being beaten a head by Found A Fifty in another Grade One at Aintree. His comeback fourth in a handicap at Ascot off a mark of 154 will have disappointed a few, but he was trying to give lumps of weight to the three who finished ahead of him and the winner, Martator, has since gone in again off a 6lb higher mark. I can see him outrunning his odds but it’s difficult to see him winning. 

Official Rating: 155. Odds: 7-1. 

The 2021 Triumph Hurdle winner has got a good wins-to-runs ratio (8 from 15) and impressed when giving weight and a beating to Marine Nationale in a Grade Three contest on his return at Naas, with Hercule Du Seuil, a fair yardstick, beaten an aggregate of 20 lengths into third. That suggests he has returned a better horse than last season, when well beaten at Cheltenham (got left at the start) and Aintree (raced wide and maybe past his best for the campaign). Captain Guinness won that Naas race for Henry De Bromhead before finishing third in this race, and Quilixios also looks a place player. 

Official Rating: 153. Odds: 25-1. 

The youngest horse in the line-up has been a busy bee since making no impact in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March. Kept on the go during the summer, he’s had another six races and you could argue he ran as well as he has ever done when making Found A Fifty pull out all the stops in the Fortria Chase at Navan last time. He was getting 7lb that day, though, and the 134-rated Senecia was just a length back in third. He’s not going to be the easiest to place and it’s difficult to see him being Ireland’s first winner since Un De Sceaux in 2016. 

Official Rating: 145. Odds: 50-1

He’s a Cheltenham Festival winner, courtesy of his win in the Grand Annual in March, but that was off a handicap mark that had slipped to 138. It’s easy to think that is again his long-term aim this season, with races like this keeping him ticking over beforehand (with the added benefit of possibly picking up some prize money along the way). He finished well adrift of Jonbon, Boothill and Edwardstone in the Shloer Chase and again looks to be making up the numbers. 

Jonbon stands out and can join the £1 million club by becoming the first horse since Kauto Star to retain his Tingle Creek crown. The bookmakers look to have got their sums right, with Edwardstone and Quilixios taken to fill the places.