Sandown, Saturday, December 3: On the second day of the Tingle Creek Festival at the Sandown steeplechase track, the eponymous Group 1 chase race takes centre stage on the six-race card.
Greaneteen (Harry Cobden) successfully rehearsed for the title defence at Exeter. Twelve months ago he won the fixture in superior style and later also secured the Celebration Chase (Group 1) on this course by twelve lengths from his nearest rival. The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old suffered defeat in the Desert Orchid Chase (Group 2) to Shishkin (Nico de Boinville), who had followed that up with a win in the Clarence House Chase (Group 1) but went down in the Queen Mother Champion Chase (Group 1) on his last appearance. Two other contenders with good chances are Gentleman De Mee (Aidan Coleman) and Edwardstone (Tom Cannon), who fought out a Group 1 Novices` Chase between them in April. Funambule Sivola (Charlie Deutsch) is much better than his recent performances. In his favour is the place of honour in the Queen Mother Champion Chase (Group 1) ahead of Politologue, who had already won the Tingle Creek Chase twice. Dunvegan (Jonathan Burke) has to improve in this company if he wants to be among the front runners.
