Betfair Tingle Creek Chase Preview: Altior an unstoppable force

With the likes of Sprinter Sacre and Douvan regularly on the sidelines in recent years, Saturday’s Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase hasn’t always been able to attract the key players in the two-mile division, but this year’s renewal looks potentially strong, with 10 entered after the race was reopened on Monday.

Indeed, the average weight-adjusted rating of the three leading contenders is the highest since 2004, when Moscow Flyer saw off Azertyuiop and Well Chief, and if all of the leading protagonists turn up on Saturday then we could be in store for a classic.

Leading the way on Timeform ratings is the Champion Chase winner Altior, who sits 9 lb clear of the field, and also has a 'small p' attached to his rating, meaning that he remains open to improvement, too.

Injury prevented Altior from a shot at this race last year, his reappearance delayed until a flawless victory in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in February, and he confirmed his status as the best two-mile chaser around when an impressive winner of the Champion Chase a month later, defeating Min by seven lengths. His strength at the finish in his races, including when triumphant on his final start in the Celebration Chase here in May, means that he will once again prove a tough nut to crack and, as such, he is impossible to oppose, with the 5/6 on offer at the time of writing an enticing proposition.

Who else?! Altior wins the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase! pic.twitter.com/ahrcLR5OZM

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2018

Familiar names lead the opposition

Min has followed a similar career trajectory to Altior so far, generally having the same targets at the Cheltenham Festival, for all that they have only met twice to date. He has 10 lb to find on Timeform ratings this time around, but at his best he is capable of top-class form – his runner-up effort behind Altior in the Champion Chase would have been good enough to win several recent renewals. However, he hasn’t always been able to show it, beaten at a short price by Politologue in the Melling Chase at Aintree on his next start in April, and the fact that he is yet to win a Grade 1 outside of novice company tempers enthusiasm for win purposes here, for all the return to two miles will be in his favour.

The presence of bigger names in this division has meant that Un de Sceaux has often found a home in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, though he is a previous winner of this race, and has produced top-class form himself at his peak. He has been a marvellous servant for his connections, defeating Douvan to win the Champion Chase at Punchestown in April, and whilst he may need Altior to underperform if he is to win this, a repeat of that run would give him serious claims.

The one who is closest to Altior on Timeform ratings, however, is the fragile Great Field, who is unbeaten in five starts over fences to date, winning the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown by 11 lengths in April 2017. Injury has meant that we have only seen him once since, when winning the Grade 2 Webster Cup Chase at Navan in March, but he remains an exciting prospect, and is a plausible threat to Altior if arriving here in peak condition.

The graduating novices pose a threat

An intriguing inclusion is Saint Calvados, a high-class novice last term who ultimately disappointed in the Arkle, seemingly amiss, but he made a winning return in a Grade 3 contest at Naas last month, getting the better of the argument with the top-class Footpad before he departed at the final flight. Saint Calvados, along with Un de Sceaux and Special Tiara, are likely to be prominent from an early stage, producing an interesting tactical conundrum for Altior's rider Nico de Boinville. Sceau Royal missed out on a shot at the Arkle last year through injury, but he won all but one of his starts, and made a winning return in good style in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last month. He’s open to further improvement yet, but has 19 lb to find with Altior on ratings.

Best of the rest

God’s Own is a regular fixture in Grade 1 contests in this division, though he regularly comes up short against the very best, for all that he won twice at this level back in 2016. He rolled back the years to win on his reappearance in the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last month, a performance that showed he retains all of his ability, but a place is perhaps the best he can hope for here. The entries are completed by Speredek and Gino Trail, both of whom are smart handicap chasers, but are likely to find this too hot.

Conclusion

It's impossible to oppose Altior in any shape or form, with Nicky Henderson’s star sitting a long way clear of the field on Timeform ratings, and likely to be a much shorter price by Saturday. Saint Calvados an Sceau Royal were highly promising novices, and that duo could prove the sternest test to Altior, with further improvement a strong possibility.

Recommendation

Back Altior at 5/6 to win Saturday’s Tingle Creek at Sandown.