View from connections, preview, tips and videos ahead of Betfair Tingle Creek
Red-hot favourite Altior faces three rivals in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase - and we talk to connections of Sceau Royal and Saint Calvados as they chase his prized scalp.
Video interviews
Daryl Jacob - jockey, Sceau Royal
Harry Whittingham - trainer, Saint Calvados
Gavin Sheehan - jockey, Saint Calvados
What the trainers say
Nicky Henderson - Altior: "He is in very good form, and we are looking forward to Saturday. We contemplated running in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last month, but we were happy to wait for the Tingle Creek - and he is in good order. It is shaping up to be a very good race, but we are delighted with him. With Buveur D'Air winning at Newcastle on Saturday, it was nice to get the show back on the road after Might Bite got beat at Haydock. We are looking forward to the race."
Colm O'Connell (part-owner) - Un De Sceaux: "Beating Un De Sceaux at Cheltenham in March is one thing, but beating him in deep ground at Sandown is another. If we're ever going to beat Altior, we know the conditions we need. Obviously there's Sceau Royal and Saint Calvados as well - that's what makes it so exciting. If you look at the horses who have been second and third to him, a fair few are on the scrapheap. Age is but a number, and we're all getting old. He was foaled in May, so technically he's not 11 until May - but it's a bad sign when an owner is dealing in months! This race is exciting and good for racing - people don't want to see 1-5 shots in Grade Ones. Because of the fast ground, we seem to have seen the best horses take each other on earlier this season - look at the Betfair Chase and the Fighting Fifth. The Tingle Creek looks another cracker."
Alan King - Sceau Royal: "I'm delighted with him. He worked on Wednesday morning and schooled on Monday, and we're very happy. I'm under no illusions about the task in front of us. It's a huge task, taking on Altior and the others as well - it looks like it's going to be a great race. We were thrilled with him at Cheltenham, and obviously that was his first run since January. I hope he's come on a bit for that, but he'll need to."
Harry Whittington - Saint Calvados: "We don't have to make the running and we are very happy with where we are with Saint Calvados. Everything has gone according to plan, and it's very exciting to be taking part in a race like this. We're under no illusions how hard it is going to be to beat Altior and the other two, but he deserves his chance. There'll be plenty of pace on, with us and Un De Sceaux, and it could come down to who jumps the Railway Fences the best. Our lad is a very slick jumper, and he's still only five.
"The Arkle has been his only blip, and we can put a line through that now after what he did in Ireland. But he's in with the big boys now - arguably one of the greatest we've seen over two miles - so we're just pinching ourselves. If he's competitive and comes back in one piece, we'll be happy because it's a tall ask for anyone to beat Altior. It looks an outstanding Tingle Creek, and we'll have to improve to be competitive - and even more to win it - but we're excited about being in it."
Man On The Spot verdict
Just the four runners for this Grade 1 but it is still a cracking line-up headed by ALTIOR, bidding for a 10th win in 10 starts over fences.
Five of those wins have come at the highest level and Nicky Henderson’s superstar is the one to beat again.
Un De Sceaux’s only defeat last season came in the Ryanair and he is also a multiple winner in Grade 1 races, including this in 2016.
Sceau Royal has been beaten just once so far over fences and won the Grade 1 novices’ chase on this card last year while Saint Calvados had the measure of Footpad when that one fell at Naas last month and he looks a very smart prospect.
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