Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 3m 55.00s

Ar Mad³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 159| CD

8/1

Grade One winner as a novice courtesy of winning 2015 Henry VIII on this card. Close fourth in this last year after going off at searing pace. Lone run since was return at Exeter when pulled up behind Politologue. Classy but doubts after Exeter run.

Form: 1111/4-P

Charbel^p1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N D Fehily| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 154| D

12/1

Chased home the outstanding novice Altior here in last year's Grade One Henry VIII on this card. In front of same rival when falling two out in Arkle at Cheltenham festival but then beaten by San Benedeto at Aintree. Place claims.

Form: 512F3-4

Fox Norton^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 169| D

8/13

Steadily improved into a top-class chaser over 2m-2m4f. Beaten a head in last year's Queen Mother Champion at Cheltenham but made amends with Grade One's at Aintree and Punchestown. Slick return last month, hard to beat.

Form: 12211-1

Politologue³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 161

7/2

Long held in high regard by his trainer who has won this race nine times. Looked like gaining first Grade One until falling at last at Aintree to end last season. Pleasing return to win Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter. Best days could be ahead, respected.

Form: 1214F-1

San Benedeto^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 157| BF| D

33/1

Rapid improvement in a busy novice campaign saw him win six times culminating in Grade One at Aintree. Not far behind firstly Politologue at Exeter, then Sir Valentino at Ascot but received weight off each so reversal unlikely.

Form: 113-224

Sir Valentino^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 162| D

20/1

Fifth in this last year although never really involved before running on late. Third in Champion (Fox Norton second) and well behind the favourite again at Aintree. Pulled-up behind Politologue first time out but bounced back latest. Bit to find.

Form: 5236-P1

Non-Runners

Ordinary World²⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: H De Bromhead J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Fox Norton (8/13), Politologue (7/2), Ar Mad (8/1), Charbel (12/1), Sir Valentino (20/1), San Benedeto (33/1), Ordinary World (33/1)

In a division where the absent Altior and Douvan make most of the headlines FOX NORTON has quietly gone about establishing himself as one of the best horses in training. Colin Tizzard's improver deserves mentioning in the same conversation now given his form in the last 12 months and he can add another Grade One here. The danger is Paul Nicholls' Politologue who looked better than ever at Exeter and he had several of these rivals behind that day. Fellow second-season chaser Charbel was giving the mighty Altior a race at Cheltenham so he can't be taken lightly now back to chasing after having his prep for this over hurdles.