Saturday’s Grade One Tingle Creek Chase will give us a few more pointers towards the Champion Chase in March – where all eyes will be on Jonbon, who is looking to enhance his Cheltenham Festival credentials by winning this Sandown race for a second year on the spin.
SportsCasting’s Andy Newton is on hand to delve deeper into the Sandown Park race – giving you his 1-2-3 Tingle Creek picks.
Jonbon The Obvious Tingle Creek Chase Pick – But He Might Have To Work For It Again
The Nicky Henderson-trained JONBON is a horse you must admire with 10 chase wins from his 12 starts, but he’s also a horse that (for some reason) doesn’t get me uber-excited.
Yes, he proven a hard nut to crack in some of the best 2m chase races in the UK – but he’s yet to race in Ireland against their better horses and the slight niggle for me is that be just keeps on beating the SAME horses over here.
He, once again, raced against old rivals Boothill and the 2022 Tingle Creek winner Edwardstone last time in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham – beating Boothill by a hard-fought 1 1/2 lengths, with Edwardstone a further 3/4 of a length back in third.
Jonbon Prone To The Odd Jumping Error
Jonbon jumped well that day, but he’s also not prone to the odd jumping error – just cast your mind back to his 1/4 defeat in the Clarence House Chase last season – when suffering only his second chase defeat to Elixir De Nutz (watch below).
He’s now raced against Boothill three times and Edwardstone four times – beaten them both every time.
I guess, what I’m trying to say is that Jonbon is a classy 170-rated chaser and is the current favourite (just) for the 2025 Champion Chase at the Festival with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
However, he’s also not a flashy individual that wins his races on the bridle or by far – which, unfortunately, despite his top record – makes him a horse that jumping fans won’t really take to their hearts (sorry if you love the horse).
Having said that, going back to the 2024 Tingle Creek – and with his main rival yet again Boothill and Edwardstone – then it will still be a shock if he’s not getting the better of that pair once more.
Add in that he seems to like it here at Sandown – he’s run at the Esher track four times and won them all – he’s still the clear form pick here.
While, even though, he can make the odd mistake – it’s still worth pointing out he’s never taken a tumble in all his 18 horse racing starts (hurdles and fences).
Jonbon Looking To Be The First ‘Back-to-Back’ Tingle Creek Chase Winner Since Kauto Star
Jonbon can win his second Tingle Creek Chase and become the first back-to-back winner since Kauto Star in 2005 and 2006. He’ll also take his total career earnings to over £1m if he can land the £93k first prize on Saturday.
But fast-forward to the Festival, and if he’s still favourite for the Champions Chase – will be a horse I’ll be looking to take on there.
WATCH: Jonbon Winning The 2023 Tingle Creek Chase
Who Will Follow Jonbon Home In The Tingle Creek Chase?
As mentioned, Boothill and Edwardstone will be trying to topple Jonbon again – but even though Boothill got a bit short of room last time at Cheltenham and was only 1 1/2 lengths away at the line, it’s likely to be more of the same from this pair again.
Edwardstone is also now 10 (going on 11) and this consistent Alan King chaser would only be the second Tingle Creek Chase winner aged 10 since 1979. With the other the mighty Moscow Flyer.
That age trend, for me, means a place at best is on the cards for the 2022 winner and 2023 runner-up.
But he does like it at Sandown with form figures of 1-1-2-3, so is certainly one for the top three.
Boothill finished just ahead of Edwardstone at Cheltenham last time out, but I think back to Sandown will just slightly favour the King horse.
Harry Fry’s 9 year-old chaser has raced at the Esher track twice before and is yet to win – albeit losing both times to Jonbon (shock).
The other concern is that Boothill has fallen in 50% of his last four starts, so even though he’s closely-matched with Edward – I’m ruling him out of a top three finish.
Quilixios Flying The Flag For Ireland
Irish raider Quilixios – from the Henry De Bromhead yard, who won this race in 2011 with Sizing Europe, also comes over so full marks to them for adding a bit more to the 2024 renewal.
This 7 year-old is versatile in terms of ground and bounced back to form as Naas last time out when beating the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Marine Nationale with ease.
However, with Marine running below par that day, the form is a tad questionable and being rated 155 is still some way off the main British runners with Jonbon 170, Edwardstone 163 and Boothill 160.
Festival fans will remember him fluffing the start in the Arkle last season. You can make a case, but he’s just not quite fulfilled his potential after winning the 2021 Triumph Hurdle, for me.
JPR One Could Outrun His Tingle Creek Chase Odds
The other horse that I think could run well is JPR One.
Trained by Joe Tizzard, who won this race as a jockey on Flagship Uberalles in 1999, this 7 year-old was last seen winning the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and there could be more to come.
Yes, he’s another that is rated 154 and a bit off the main players, but he’s only had six career runs over fences (3 wins) so unlike most of the others looks the one that is most likely to improve.
He’s won 50% of his six chase starts too – and that would have been more had he not fallen late on at Cheltenham last season in the Arkle Trial.
As mentioned, Tizzard (Joe) won this race as a jockey in the past – but his dad (Colin) never trained the winner, so he’ll be looking to get one over his old man here and also try for a unique Tingle Creek double.
So, in the tricast, I’d be looking to play two lines Jonbon to win – with Edwardstone and JPR One filling the other places on the podium.
Andy Newton’s Tingle Creek Chase 1-2-3
- Line ONE
- 1st – JONBON
- 2nd – Edwardstone
- 3rd – JPR One
- Line TWO
- 1st – JONBON
- 2nd – JPR One
- 3rd – Edwardstone
2024 Tingle Creek Chase Race Details
📅Date: Saturday 7th December 2024
⌚Time: 3:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Sandown
🔄Trip: 1m 7 1/2f
💷Winning Purse: £99,663
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
Who was Tingle Creek the horse? Find out more about the former Sandown specialist. Plus, get daily horse racing best bets from the well-known Andrew Mount on SportsCasting.
