Ratings Update: No stopping Altior

Only four runners went to post for the Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday, but it looked an outstanding renewal beforehand, and it fully delivered, the best chaser around in Altior (remains on 179p) seeing off a top-class rival in the shape of Un de Sceaux (remains on 169). Altior produced a performance every bit as good as his victory in the Champion Chase last March, as ever really strong at the finish after having little trouble coping with the pace set, and the only moment of worry came with a rare jumping lapse early on. He's the best jumper in training and will continue to be very hard to beat, rightly a short price to successfully defend his Champion Chase crown. Un de Sceaux is still a top-notch chaser now rising 11, one who revels in the mud, and he ran right up to his best after eight months off, the rain that fell before the race all in his favour, his performance well-nigh perfect; he's surely got a return to Ascot for a fourth Clarence House on the agenda, seemingly unlikely to face Altior there.

What a battle!

Altior wins the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at @Sandownpark from Un De Sceaux! pic.twitter.com/EA6HEl86GD

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) 8 December 2018

The Henry VIII Novices’ Chase earlier on the card was run over four seconds quicker than the Tingle Creek – there was a heavy deluge of rain in between the two races – and was won by the Paul Nicholls-trained Dynamite Dollars (up 8 lb to 150p), who comfortably reversed the form with Lalor (151 from 152p) from the previous month, the different ground and a race run in much more searching fashion producing a rather different result. Connections of Lalor blamed the soft ground for his below-par effort, but his overall record suggests he will be well worth another chance over fences. There was no taking away from the performance of the winner, though, already a much better chaser than a hurdler, his jumping sure to stand him in good stead moving forward, and he will likely stay further than two miles, too.

The Becher Chase was the feature race at Aintree on Saturday, a cracking renewal of this prestigious handicap which featured the three most recent winners, a Scottish National winner, a few Cheltenham Festival winners and a former top-notcher in the shape of Don Poli. It was the well-backed Walk In The Mill (up 1 lb to 142) who came out on top, stepping up appreciably on his reappearance to take advantage of a lenient mark, relishing the emphasis on stamina (sure to stay further). The rest of his season is reportedly to be geared around returning for the Grand National in the spring and the chances are that he'll be entitled to plenty of consideration regardless of what happens between now and then. The runner-up Vieux Lion Rouge (146+ from 143+) ran his best race since winning the Grand National Trial at Haydock almost two years ago after eight months off (had breathing operation), though he didn't go about the task with bags of relish and it remains to be seen whether he'll continue at this sort of level, let alone build on it.

Will you be backing Walk in The Mill in the Grand National?

He's heading there after this performance today! pic.twitter.com/BdJPL1M49h

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) 8 December 2018

With half as much prize money it's not surprising that the Grand Sefton tends not to have the quality or the depth of the Becher, but it's still a useful handicap in its own right and only two of the 11 runners failed to complete, plenty still in contention approaching two out. The winner Warriors Tale (up 2 lb to 150) had failed to stay in the Grand National earlier in the year, but he'd coped well enough with the fences on that occasion and this intermediate trip proved right up his street as he resumed winning ways; he’s a reliable sort who should remain competitive.

The biggest field for the Peterborough Chase since 2008 went to post at Huntingdon on Sunday, though the extra numbers didn't make it significantly deeper than some of the recent runnings, Charbel (up 2 lb to 161) proving at least as good as ever to beat Haldon Gold Cup winner God’s Own (159 from 162). Charbel had shaped as though going up in trip rather than back would suit at Ascot the time before, but he was wisely ridden to make the most of his stamina at a track that suits aggressive tactics and readily went one better with the cheekpieces back on, his jumping (which hasn't always been his strong suit) really good for the most part. He's not been over-raced and still has youth on his side, the Melling Chase at Aintree appealing as a potential Grade 1 target in the spring (his trainer noted afterwards that he'd be kept to Flat tracks).

Over in Ireland, it wasn’t a vintage renewal by recent standards of the long-established John Durkan Memorial Chase, though all five runners had already tasted success at Grade 1 level and the result certainly has substance, the quintet finishing in betting order. Min (remains on 169) was clearly refreshed after eight months off, finally landing his first Grade 1 win outside of novice company (finished first past the post but was correctly disqualified at Leopardstown last December). He clearly stays two and a half miles well enough, and with his nemesis Altior such a dominant figure in the two-mile ranks at present, connections may continue to explore options at this trip; several bookmakers promoted him to favouritism for the Ryanair Chase afterwards.