Ratings Update: Tingle Creek meeting

Sandown

The Tingle Creek itself may well have been missing some key contenders, namely Douvan – whose withdrawal at the beginning of the week caused chaos in the ante-post market in the race for the second year running – but the other two graded races at Sandown’s two-day meeting were both excellent renewals. Four unbeaten novice hurdlers clashed in Friday’s Winter Novices’ Hurdle, and it was On The Blind Side (151p from 136p) who kept the unbeaten record intact. He set the standard on his Hyde win at Cheltenham last month, though he was made to work hard for that victory and this was an altogether more polished performance, on the bridle for far longer than he had been at Cheltenham and quickening clear before the last to win impressively, looking a novice right out of the top drawer. He’ll reportedly go for the Baring Bingham (Neptune) at the Cheltenham Festival. Springtown Lake (136) was no match for the winner but ran well in second, beating Red River (125p from 129p), who was possibly unsuited by the sterner test (this more of a slog than his win at Wincanton had been). The obvious disappointment in the race was White Moon (down to 121p from 128P), though he’s well worth another chance given how promising he’d looked when winning his first two starts under Rules.

Just five runners lined up for the Henry VIII on Saturday but it was another cracker, dual Grade 1 winning hurdler Finian’s Oscar heading the betting from Brain Power, who was very smart over timber and was stepping up markedly in grade following an impressive debut win over fences. As it turned out, Finian’s Oscar (loses his big ‘P’, now 150p) didn’t have the pace to deal with the drop to two miles and was never in the race, while Brain Power (remains on 154p) was booked for second when he unseated his rider at the last, paying the price for seeing off North Hill Harvey (146) who took him on for the lead in the back straight. This rather set up the race for the outsider of the field Sceau Royal (up 8 lb to 155p), though he looked a class better than his rivals on the day, travelling powerfully and jumping soundly. The time of the race compares well to the Tingle Creek, and Sceau Royal will be a leading contender for top honours in the two-mile division this season.

Sceau Royal proves his class and wins the Henry VIII Novices' Chase. pic.twitter.com/nxBC83iHoO

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 9, 2017

Though it wasn’t a vintage Tingle Creek, Fox Norton (170) is a proven Grade 1 performer, a close second in last season’s Champion Chase and twice a winner at the highest level after (at Aintree and Punchestown). He was just a shade below his best at Sandown on Saturday, however, not quite so slick over his fences as the winner Politologue (up 4 to 165) and unable to get past that rival up the run-in. Fox Norton is set to step up in trip now, with the King George still an option, but it’d be a big surprise if we ever saw Politologue over much further than this again (campaigned primarily over two and a half miles as a novice), clearly well suited by the demands of this sort of trip as he landed a first Grade 1 with an almost faultless performance. With doubts about when/whether Altior and Douvan will return, Politologue merits serious consideration as a Champion Chase candidate, and may well have even more to offer, this only his third start at around two miles over fences.

ICYMI: Politologue claimed the Tingle Creek Chase today at Sandown Park Racecourse.

Our thoughts are with those connected with Sir Valentino who sadly died after a fall during the race. pic.twitter.com/IHvWvokJXx

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 9, 2017

Aintree

Conditions were much more testing up at Aintree on Saturday and numbers for both races run over the National fences, the Becher and the Grand Sefton, saw smaller field sizes than is normally the case. That was certainly no reflection on the quality of the Becher, however, which was won by the well-backed favourite Blaklion (up 4 lb to 163). Blaklion could hardly have had stronger claims on paper, proven over the fences (fourth in last year’s National) and in the mud, as well as having a rock-solid run under his belt when second to Betfair Chase winner Bristol de Mai in the Charlie Hall, and he justified market support in smooth fashion. The form was extremely strong, with The Last Samuri (161) running another cracking race in defeat over the big fences in second, and 2015 winner/2016 second Highland Lodge (140) back in third.

The Grand Sefton went to Gas Line Boy (up 1 lb to 149), who finished one place behind Blaklion in last season’s National and was clearly suited by the emphasis on stamina. Gas Line Boy did well, too, having been hampered by a faller four out, and is clearly extremely versatile in terms of trip. The preceding race, the Many Clouds Chase, also went to a horse that contested last year’s National. Definitly Red (162+) was fitter for his reappearance third in the Charlie Hall (behind Blaklion) and was right back to his best under conditions that suited him perfectly, outstaying the strong-travelling Cloudy Dream (157), who moved through the race as if still in top form and will benefit from a return to shorter. The winner is entitled to have a tilt at a Grade 1 now, and though he’d need a bit more to win one, he could be seen to good effect in one if getting similar ground (perhaps in Ireland).

Definitely Red comes through some tough conditions to win the Many Clouds Chase at @AintreeRaces pic.twitter.com/N1WtxtG1ec

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 9, 2017

Ireland

If he did run in a Grade 1 in Ireland, Definitly Red would do well to avoid Sizing John (up 6 lb to 176), who looked better than ever when winning Sunday’s John Durkan at Punchestown by seven lengths from Djakadam (remains on 169) with a bit in hand, beating that rival – who was bidding for a hat-trick of wins in the race – for the third time. With Thistlecrack and Our Duke both underwhelming on their seasonal reappearances, he’s clearly well worth his place at the head of the ante-post betting for the Gold Cup. We didn’t learn a great deal from the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on the same day, the card abandoned shortly after due to the gruelling conditions, but Un de Sceaux (169) coped best and got off the mark for the season. He’ll presumably attempt to defend his Ryanair crown.