Tataniano Pointed at 2011 Tingle Creek

The latest news from Paul Nicholls yard is that Tataniano will be their only entry in the 2011 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in two weeks time. There is a lot to like about this race and it has been a genuine kingmaker in recent years. The Nicholls yard has made this one their own on a number of different occasions and you know they wouldn't enter Tataniano if they didn't think he was more than capable of finding the line first.

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In fact, Nicholls has won the race six years in a row with Kauto Star, Master Minded and the unfortunate Twist Magic who was fatally injured last year at Newbury.

Tataniano got things off to a rollicking start this season when conquering a handicap chase at Chepstow on his seasonal debut. Backed well and going out at 5/2, he delivered by an eighth length margin. Over the past several years, he has shown the ability to score off the debut and keep the momentum going into his next races.

Despite only seven career efforts over fences, Tataniano has won four with a single first and second-place finish. He has amassed well over £110,000 so far.

Several challengers are already starting to show their faces and Wishfull Thinking is likely to be one of the most tricky ones to navigate. He took a shot at the Paddy Power Gold Cup last week but could only muster a disappointing sixth place finish. His 2010/11 campaign was first-rate – with only a falling effort on seasonal debut at Wincanton being the sole time he finished outside of the top 2.

Victories over Medermit, Blazing Tempo and Calgary Bay show just how much acumen there is to work with there. The Phillip Hobbs-trained gelding will likely go off as favourite or second favourite.

There have been a number of rumours that Sizing Europe is set to tackle the 2011 Tingle Creek and he would immediately be instilled as an odds-on favourite for this one if he opted to run.