2010 Tingle Creek Chase Antepost Preview

Paul Nicholls is sending out a pair of high-quality jumpers to tackle the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown this Saturday. We’ve got a very interesting field of ten lined up for this one and virtually all top trainers are represented by at least one charge in the Tingle Creek. Nicky Henderson saddles French Opera and last season’s Victor Chandler Chase runner-up Petit Robin.

Handicap chase stalwart Kinkeel is also set for a run here, but this punter’s favourite looks to be up against it here. David Pipe’s I’m So Lucky will be using this one as a seasonal debut and he ended last season with a Grade 2 score in the Celebration Chase, which gives him a course and distance victory to his credit.

It probably doesn’t come as a massive surprise to know that Nicholls’ two charges are the massive favourites for this one in the antepost market. The irrepressible Master Minded got things off to a great start with Noel Fehily up over the Ascot surface when he tackled the Amlin 1965 Chase a few weeks back when sent off at 5/6. He took the 2008 edition of this race when sent off at 4/7.

Twist Magic also has a run under his belt this season and he has conquered the Tingle Creek just like his stablemate. He bested a field of five that included Forpadydeplasterer when scoring at a 9/4 price tag with Ruby aboard. Examining his last run, the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup Chase at Exeter, he drifted a bit too much on the run-in and was pipped by 16/1 Tchico Polos. He’ll get a sharper trip here, you expect, and he should be able to match wits with anybody in this field. You’ll find him in the spoilers’ position at a solid 11/4.

Gauvain has seen his price clipped down to 13/2 and comes in off a score over the Cheltenham surface in the Sinbad Testimonial where he bested Forpady. He boasts a course and distance reference, but it came at Novice level so you can’t put as much stock in that as you would for the likes of Master Minded.

From a form perspective, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Mahogany Blaze looks an also-ran as he simply struggles to find the finish line. He’s had two races under his belt and has run against a lot of these contenders before. At 50/1 you may reckon he’ll take some place-only action.

Fan-favourite Kinkeel will be rewarding at 500/1 if he can pull off the result of his lifetime and score at Grade 1 level after an eternity on the handicap circuit.