Trainer Nicky Henderson poses for a photo with Altior
Trainer Nicky Henderson poses for a photo with Altior

Altior tops eight confirmations in Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown


Altior features among eight horses engaged in Saturday's Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown Park - and is 4/5 favourite with the sponsors.

Nicky Henderson's chasing ace won the race two years ago but missed last season's event having been beaten by Cyrname on testing ground at Ascot on his return to action.

Reports from the camp have been especially positive heading into his latest campaign following another setback which saw him ruled out of his Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase defence in the spring.

He'll face off with a maximum of seven rivals, including Paul Nicholls' rapidly-progressive Haldon Gold Cup winner Greaneteen.

Nicholls could also run Politologue, who picked up the pieces in a depleted Champion Chase in March on his latest public outing. His jockey Harry Skelton hopes Politologue can pick up where he left off by making a triumphant return to action.

Having steered the Paul Nicholls-trained grey to glory in March, Skelton will bid to secure a second Grade 1 victory aboard him on Saturday.

Skelton has not sat on Politologue in public since their Festival triumph, but he has ridden him on Nicholls’ gallops at Ditcheat in preparation for his return.

Skelton said: “I’ve had a sit on him, and he feels in great form. Paul is very happy with him, and that is the main thing. If he is happy then I’m happy. He does feel very well, and we are looking forward to it.”

Although the John Hales-owned nine-year-old failed to feature in the race 12 months ago, having previously landed the 2017 renewal, Skelton is far from concerned – given he has already won first time out on three occasions.

He added: “He blew out there a little bit last year, but I think Paul is much happier with him this time round. The defeat in last year’s race doesn’t play on my mind, because he feels great to me – and we know he goes well fresh.”

This year’s Queen Mother lost some of its gloss following the late withdrawals of Altior and Chacun Pour Soi, but Skelton believes their absence should not detract from the performance Politologue put up.

He added: “Cheltenham was fantastic, and it doesn’t say that the race cut up on the trophy. He gave me a day I will never forget, and I’m now just really looking forward to getting back on him.”

Politologue has yet to defeat Altior in their three previous clashes. But Skelton is not afraid of renewing battle with Nicky Henderson’s brilliant dual champion, who has tasted defeat just once in 21 jump starts.

He added: “We are taking on Altior – but when you are running in Grade One races you expect hot competition. It’s going to be a good race, and hopefully all the key players turn up."

Harry Whittington's Rouge Vif made a really impressive start to his season with victory at Cheltenham and he could be joined by the Kim Bailey-trained First Flow, another recent handicap winner when scoring at Ascot.

Olly Murphy has one in the mix in the shape of Brewin'upastorm and Evan Williams' Esprit Du Large could return to the scene of his greatest triumph having struck gold in last year's Henry VIII Novices' Chase. He has fallen twice from his three starts since but was third at Carlisle behind Whoshotthesheriff last time out.

The eighth possible runner this weekend is the Pat Fahy-trained Castlegrace Paddy.

Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: "Altior is now odds-on 4/5 from 6/5 as he bids to add to his 2018 victory in the race.

"Paul Nicholls is looking for an astonishing 11th win in this race and his Haldon Gold Cup winner, Greaneteen, who has been very popular having been backed at an ante-post high of 20/1, is now clear second favourite at 4/1, with his stable companion and 2017 winner, Politologue, just a point bigger at 5/1. It's shaping up to be a fantastic renewal of the race."


Betfair Tingle Creek Chase – Sponsors Betting: 4/5 Altior, 4/1 Greaneteen, 5/1 Politologue, 7/1 Rouge Vif, 14/1 First Flow, 16/1 Brewinupastorm, 25/1 Castlegrace Paddy, 33/1 Esprit Du Large

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