The Becher Chase at Aintree promises to provide the biggest racing spectacle this Saturday. However, for the highest-class domestic contest, we need to turn our attention south to the Esher venue of Sandown for the 2024 edition of the Tingle Creek Chase.
First run in 1969 and later renamed in honour of a jumping star from the 70s, this 2m affair features 13 of the most formidable fences in the game and places a firm emphasis on an ability to jump accurately at speed.
Any lack of pace or jumping foibles are ruthlessly exposed in an event landed by greats of the game, including Desert Orchid, Viking Flagship, Flagship Uberalles, Moscow Flyer, Kauto Star, Master Minded, and Altior.
Ahead of the 2024 renewal, we now have our final list of runners and riders, with seven hopefuls lining up to tackle a red-hot favourite in pursuit of the £175,000 in total prize money.
1. Boothill – 12/1 with bet365
Trainer: Harry Fry
Grade 1 Wins: None
Late-improving nine-year-old who makes his third start in Grade 1 company. His two previous efforts have produced similar results. 8l behind Jonbon when second in the 2022 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at this meeting, he finished a 7¼l fourth to that rival in the 2024 Celebration Chase over this course and distance. He has 10lbs to find with the Nicky Henderson runner but finished closer than he ever has done when a 1½l second to Jonbon in the Shloer Chase on his seasonal return. He finished his race well on good ground that day and may enjoy the forecast slower conditions.
2. Edwardstone – 8/1 with bet365
Trainer: Alan King
Grade 1 Wins: Henry VIII Novices Chase (2021), Arkle Challenge Trophy (2022), Tingle Creek Chase (2022)
Behind Jonbon, this Alan King stable star is the most decorated runner in the field and boasts career form figures of 1123 over this course and distance. 16l too good for the field in the 2021 Henry VIII Novices Chase, he then put in a monstrous display to land the 2022 edition of this by 9l. On the downside, he has now faced Jonbon four times without success, including when finishing a 2¾l second in the 2023 edition of this. He also ran in the Shloer Chase on his return, where he finished third behind Jonbon and Boothill.
3. Jonbon – 4/7 with bet365
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Grade 1 Wins: Top Novices’ Hurdle (2022), Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (2022), Maghull Novices’ Chase (2023), Celebration Chase (2023, 2024), Tingle Creek Chase (2023), Melling Chase (2024)
With seven Grade 1 wins in the book, Jonbon needs just one more to match the total of his much-vaunted full-brother Douvan. Unlike his sibling, Jonbon has yet to score at the Cheltenham Festival but has barely put a foot wrong elsewhere. His Sandown record makes for particularly impressive reading – four starts, four Grade 1 wins, with no rival finishing within 2¾l of him. Unlikely to have been at concert pitch for his comeback in the Shloer Chase, he still had too many guns for Edwadstone and Boothill and is the one they all have to beat.
4. JPR One – 12/1 with bet365
Trainer: Joe Tizzard
Grade 1 Wins: None
Joe Tizzard is still looking for a star of a similar ilk to his father’s legendary runners Cue Card, Native River, and Thistlecrack. That trio represent a lofty target at which to aim, but if there is a Grade 1 performer in the yard, this seven-year-old may be the one. Having clutched defeat from the jaws of victory when unseating after the last in the Arkle Trial, he gained a deserved first Graded win in the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Lingfield. Returning with an impressive win in the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, he may be ready to make his presence at the top table. However, with his two previous Grade 1 outings resulting in a 34l seventh in the Arkle and a 6l third in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, he does need to improve.
5. Master Chewy – 20/1 with bet365
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Grade 1 Wins: None
Unsuccessful in the Point-to-Point, Bumper, and Hurdle spheres, this son of Walk In The Park finally found the winning groove over fences. Bagging the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton at around this time last year, he then finished well behind JPR One at Lingfield. However, having been badly hampered at the first fence, it may be safe to ignore that effort. In two previous outings in Grade 1 company, he fell at the second last when keeping on into third in the Arkle and lost out by a short head to Arkle runner-up Found A Fifty at Aintree. Having run a fair race under a big weight on his seasonal return, he may have more to offer in Graded company.
6. Quilixios – 11/2 with bet365
Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Grade 1 Wins: Spring Juvenile Hurdle (2021), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2021)
Just about the hottest juvenile hurdle in the sport back in 2021, it’s fair to say this Cheveley Park Stud runner hasn’t quite delivered on that potential. Three starts in 2021/22 produced three defeats at the hands of Teahupoo. Then followed a 610-day injury-enforced absence. Since returning in October 2023, Quilixios has won three of six starts over fences but finished well adrift in his two outings in Grade 1 company. However, despite seeming to have been around forever, he is still only seven years of age and made a spectacular return when thrashing 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Marine Nationale in a Grade 3 at Naas.
7. Solness – 33/1 with bet365
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Grade 1 Wins: None
Irish raider who has yet to win above Listed level. Disappointing for much of 2023/24 but he has been much better since an early return to the track in September – winning twice and going down by just a neck to Found A Fifty in a Grade 2 at Navan. A repeat of that effort may give him minor place claims, but he did receive 7lbs from his conqueror that day.
8. Unexpected Party – 80/1 with bet365
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Grade 1 Wins: None
The lowest rated runner in the field and out of his depth on all known form. In two previous outings in Grade 1s over this track and trip, he finished 24l behind Jonbon in the 2022 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and 15l adrift of Le Patron in the 2023 edition of that event. Last of four behind Jonbon in the Shloer Chase last time out, he will do well to finish in the top six and grab a share of the prize money.
The Verdict
Jonbon is very hard to fault at the head of the market, with his catalogue of Grade 1 triumphs, flawless record over the course and distance, and unbeaten record against rivals Boothill and Edwadstone likely to make him hard to beat. Having won 10 of 12 starts over fences, odds of 4/7 may be a little short for some but appear perfectly fair.
Of the others, Solness and Unexpected Party look out of their depth, and JPR One didn’t go particularly well on his previous outing over track and trip. Edwardstone does go well here but was losing ground at the line in the Shloer Chase, whilst Master Chewy may find his jumping comes under pressure. Boothill can go well, but Quilixios put in a polished display of jumping last time out at Naas and can make a bold bid from the front to give the favourite the most to do.
Predicted Result:
1st: Jonbon
2nd: Qulixios
3rd: Boothill
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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