Tingle Creek 2012

3.05 Sandown

Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £68,340

Advice: 3 pts Sprinter Scare – Sanctuaire straight forecast (8/11 Paddy Power)

Ante Post: 4 pts Sprinter Sacre to win today and Champion Chase (13/8 Totesport)

Already advised: 4 pts double Captain Conan (1.55 Sandown, 1/2 general), Sprinter Sacre (3.05 Sandown, 4/9 general) (2.12 general)

Doeslessthanme: Better than ever at the end of last season when having sorted out his jumping, winning novice chase at Hereford and handicaps at Newton Abbot/Ayr in the spring; Well beaten behind Wishfull Thinking on return and only playing for third.

Idarah: Two wins from two handicap chases at this trip since joining Venetia Williams, suited by the drop back to this sort of trip when landing handicap at Kelso off 136 last month; Out of his depth here.

 

Kinkeel: Loveable veteran, but out of depth once again here.

Kumbeshwar: Had decent chance at the weights in graduation chase at Haydock last time out, showing his progression from last year has contained (heavy fall last time out when seen); Playing for third place but worthy of respect.

Sanctuaire: Top class and capable of anything on his day, as his spectacular, all the way, 17 length win in Celebration Chase at backend of last season from Somsersby (soft) showed, making it 3-3 over fences in most brilliant fashion; That form gives him chance of upsetting Sprinter Sacre for all he may be another proposition altogether and makes for a fascinating rival.

Sprinter Sacre: One of the best novice chasers seen for years last season, unbeaten in 5 with aggregate victory margin of 66 lengths, producing stunning performance in Arkle at Cheltenham Festival to top the lot; Missed intended comeback due to soft ground but has won on soft ground before and if able to move through this ground, shouldn’t be a problem.

His Excellency: Impressed in three runs for David Pipe and made it 3-4 over fences when winning at Cheltenham, but only fifth of six when upped to Grade 2 level; Open company suggests that he will struggle yet more.

VERDICT: The moment that hardcore jumps fans have been waiting for since April, when Sanctuaire marked himself as one of the only horses capable of throwing a proper challenge to superstar novice SPRINTER SACRE with his devastating  Celebration Chase win here. Time has shown Sprinter Sacre’s Arkle to be just as good, and if Nicky Henderson’s charge can cope with what’s expected to be quite testing ground, he can make it 6-6 and confirm his Champion Chase favourite status. Those two should be in a class of their own.