Balder Success, God`s Own Re-Match In Tingle Creek

Tingle Creek

Horse Racing
Published: 05/12/2014

A total of 10 runners will line up for Sandown`s two mile Tingle Creek Chase tomorrow (6th December, 15:00) with the early betting being headed by Alan King`s seven-time distance winner Balder Success.

King`s charge has been seen twice already this season, grabbing a place in both Punchestown and Exeter chases. The six-year-old was just a neck behind surprise one-two, God`s Own and Moscow Mannion in Ireland prior to once again coming unstuck against Tom George`s God`s Own in Devon.

The Tingle Creek chase is something of a grudge match for Balder Success as his two-time successor also lines up tomorrow. Despite having failed to get the better of him when better fancied, King`s entry can be backed at 11/4 (Numerous) to reverse the form. God`s own is the 4/1 second-favourite for his Slad-based trainer at most bookmakers.

Tomorrow`s favourite has beaten his arch-rival, however. Ridden by Wayne Hutchinson, Balder Success got the better of God`s Own over two and a half miles in a Grade two at Kempton towards the end of last season. Whilst connections of George`s hat-trick-seeker will be confident of his continued success over this shorter distance, the soft going will more than likely better suit the King horse, making for a highly-charged battle.

Long-time accomplice Paddy Brennan takes the ride on the second-favourite, the horse being our slight preference. Balder Success will be ridden by Richard Johnson.

Serial-Cheltenham-botherer Oscar Whiskey will also be present tomorrow after finishing in fourth place in the paddy Power Gold Cup at his course of choice. His place in this race demonstrates that the nine-year-old can still cut in the larger fields, his last six wins have been in fields of five or smaller.

With a month having past since that Cheltenham chase, there will be no excuses for Oscar Whiskey who should be fighting fit. The sole entry of Nicky Henderson, he who trained Sprinter Sacre to victory in this race in 2012, he has only ever had two runs at Sandown but finished first on both occasions.

Barry Geraghty`s ride should run well, even if the cut remains in the ground and is 7/1 to record his first victory of the season.

Paul Nicholls` is the only trainer two-handed in the race, declaring both Dodging Bullets and Hinterland, 9/1 (Numerous) and 16/1 (Betvictor) respectively.

Neither horse has entered the winner`s enclosure since the December of the 2013 season, and though Dodging Bullets has emerged victorious in twice as many races as his stable-mate (seven to Hinterland`s four) our preference is for his companion.

Hinterland`s last two victories came at Sandown, the second being in the grade one Henry VIII Novices` Chase. It was in this race where the hold-up-horse was able to topple the prominently-ridden Balder Success who, after committing mistake after mistake, completed the chase in fifth position, 12 lengths behind the victor. That was Hinterland`s second ride in the race, the first seeing him come second, on soft, to Nicky Henderson`s Captain Conan. He was, however, pulled up as Balder Success took on God`s Own at Exeter.

Noel Fehily takes the ride on Hinterland whilst stable jockey Sam Twiston-Davies is aboard Dodging Bullets.

Also prominent in the betting are 8/1 (Numerous) Vukovar and 9/1 (Numerous) Somersby. The former was very lightly-raced before taking the plunge in the JLT Novices` Hurdle in March, in which he came home in seventh of 12. Whilst improvement would be expected, it does seem like too much for Harry Fry`s five-year-old.

In opposition, classy old Somersby takes a step back in trip after completing Ascot`s 1965 in second position. Whilst he was seven lengths behind Al Ferof in this race, his performance showed that the 10-year-old could still hold his own against the big boys.

Rounding off the line up are previous Sandown winner William`s Wishes (25/1 - Betvictor, ladbrokes, Skybet), Third Intention for the Colin Tizzard team (Betvictor, Sportinglife, william hill) and the only mare in the race, Petite Rose (40/1 - betway).

Go To bet365
#Ad


Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (05/12/2014) but are subject to change.

05/12/2014     © Frixo 2024

Comment on this preview
Your Name:
Your Email:
What is  + 7
Commment: