Horse Racing betting: Tingle Creek Chase

Old rivals Voy Por Ustedes and Monet's Garden line-up on Saturday in the 2.35pm at Sandown for the Paddy Power-sponsored Tingle Creek Chase in order to duel for the £85,530 prize money in the Grade 1 event. Click here for a free £30 to use on Paddy Power Poker This contest used to be run as a handicap but since it was granted Grade 1 status in 1993, the list of chasers to have scooped the prize money is of the highest class. Kauto Star misses out the chance to defend his title due to the proximity of this race to Boxing Day's King George, and trainer Paul Nicholls bids to win this for the third year in a row with either Twist Magic or Hoo La Baloo. Twist Magic is the stable's first string and substitute stable jockey Sam Thomas takes the ride in the continued absence of regular partner Ruby Walsh. Twist Magic was tanking along in March when contesting the Arkle Trophy and the five-year-old would have had a big say in the finish had he not met the much publicised second-last fence awkwardly. His subsequent five-length defeat of Arkle runner-up Fair Along at Aintree in April backs up this view and Nicholls has a live runner in Totesport's 5/1 shot. But that would require a leap of faith - admittedly not the largest one - because the classy pair of Voy Por Ustedes and Monet's Garden should really have this race to themselves. Monet's Garden became just the third horse to defeat champion Kauto Star when he has completed a chase in Britain when finishing one-and-a-half lengths in front of the Gold Cup winner in the Old Roan Chase handicap in October. It was a gutsy performance and although a lot of attention has been focussed on the fact that Nicky Richards' grey is better over a longer distance, Sandown's two-mile trip on soft ground should suit. It's not as if Monet's Garden can't win over two miles anyway. The nine-year-old has raced four times over the distance, winning three of those. His only defeat happened to come against Voy Por Ustedes. That loss came in last year's Arkle, when one-and-a-quarter lengths separated the two, but Monet's Garden carried 5lbs more. Make no mistake, reigning two-mile champion Voy Por Ustedes will be no pushover on going and over a distance that clearly suits him. He also has the benefit of a prep race this year, as last season his fitness was a telling factor in his defeat to Kauto Star. With age on his side as well, he should improve from last season's Champion Chase triumph, but he will have to because there is a sneaking suspicion that the race he won in March was far from a vintage renewal. Bet365 are out to lay Alan King's favourite and all in, at 11/8 with that firm, he looks too short. Monet's Garden offers the most value at 11/4 with Paddy Power or 3/1 with Betdaq and what's more, everyone loves a grey. Verdict: 1pt Monet's Garden @ 11/4 (Paddy Power) Click here for a free £30 to use on Paddy Power Poker