Timeform expect Altior to make a successful return to competitive action as he seeks a second Tingle Creek success at Sandown on Saturday.
The Top-Rated
- Altior (Timeform weight-adjusted rating: 189+)
Altior experienced a truncated campaign last season, making it to the course only twice and suffering a first defeat over obstacles when beaten by Cyrname at Ascot, but he is still very much the one to beat and the pick of his form is the best on offer by a wide margin (he is at least 7 lb clear on Timeform ratings).
Altior was imperious during the 2018/19 campaign, winning all five starts, including this race and the Celebration Chase over the same course and distance. That victory in the 2019 Celebration Chase took Altior's record over this course and distance to five from five (he has the Timeform Horses For Courses Flag, indicating he acts well here). It also took his unbeaten sequence over jumps to a record 19.
Altior was unable to extend that sequence as he was beaten by Cyrname in the 1965 Chase at Ascot on his reappearance last season, but a routine success in the Betfair Exchange Chase at Newbury in February showed that he remains a potent force in the division.
The Improver
Paul Nicholls has a remarkable record in the Tingle Creek and has won the race an incredible 10 times. He last struck in 2017 with Politologue, who won the Champion Chase in March and makes his reappearance here.
However, arguably a more interesting contender for Nicholls is Greaneteen, who took extremely well to chasing last season, winning his first three outings in the style of an exciting prospect before finishing fourth in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival.
Things didn't go his way at Cheltenham, however, as he met trouble when going well on the approach to the straight, and he then had his momentum checked when asked for a long jump at the second-last.
Greaneteen created a striking impression when winning the Haldon Gold Cup on his reappearance at Exeter last month, scoring by only a neck but catching the eye with how powerfully he moved through the race. Greaneteen needs to take a big step forward from that handicap, but he is lightly raced and has an upwardly-mobile profile so looks well worth a shot at a race such as this.
The Verdict
There may be only six runners but this is a high-class and intriguing renewal of the Tingle Creek.
ALTIOR heads the Timeform ratings and the betting, and there is little doubt that he will prove difficult to beat if running anywhere near the level that he showed on his way to racking up 19 consecutive wins over jumps.
Setbacks restricted Altior to only two starts last season and he wasn't at his very best on either outing, so there is a slight question to answer, but he should be raring to go after a recent racecourse gallop at Newbury.
This is much the toughest race that Greaneteen has contested, but he has earned a shot at this level and can prove the biggest threat to Altior.
Champion Chase winner Politologue is respected, while Rouge Vif looked good when bolting up in a handicap at Cheltenham on his reappearance but that form is not working out well.
Castlegrace Paddy also arrives on the back of a career-best but this demands much more, and Brewin'upastorm needs to raise his game significantly after disappointing on his return at Carlisle.
