Shishkin should win the Tingle Creek - if he runs
THE Tingle Creek, usually the second best two-mile chase of the season, is at the heart of an excellent and varied programme of racing tomorrow.
If Nicky Henderson allows Shishkin to run he should win. His 10-race winning sequence came to an end when pulled up in the Queen Mother. He was later found to be suffering from a rare bone condition. Whether the Sandown chase course has enough cut in it to satisfy the trainer won’t be known until the day. Greaneteen hasn’t yet shown the same level of form, but he has won three times at Sandown and will be a clear pick if Shishkin doesn’t run.
The participation of last season’s Arkle winner Edwardstone is also subject to the going. Gentleman De Mee beat Edwardstone at Aintree but tired badly in his comeback run at Naas before coming down at the final fence. If he’s better for that outing he would give Greaneteen a run for his money.
The much-touted Jonbon, with his £570,000 price tag hanging over his head, bids for his second victory over fences in the Henry VIII Novices Chase after a pleasing effort first time out against two decent opponents. He only has three rivals this time, but Boothill and Unexpected Party will make it a good test for him.
At Aintree, Gesskille is a leading fancy for the Becher Chase after his gallant running-on second in the Grand Sefton over five furlongs fewer. He’s only gone up four pounds for that. The Skeltons’ Saturday runners have to be respected and Ashtown Lad is their candidate. Christian Williams’ targeting of major staying races makes Five Star
Getaway of major interest. Bearing in mind the Bowens’ record over the National fences, even with 11 stone 13 Francky Du Berlais must be considered at 25/1, if only for extra places.
Let’s hope the Many Clouds Chase will live up to its name without being blighted by fences being omitted due to the low sun. This will be a real treat, the field of six including Chantry House, Noble Yeats, Ahoy Senor and Dashel Drasher.
There’s also a good card at Chepstow, where the Welsh Grand National Trial is the centrepiece. The last two runnings were won by horses who went on to win the big race itself on December 27. The dual victor in 2020, Secret Reprieve, should be better for his last run and with only 10-4 is attractively weighted – as is Wayfinder, with the interesting booking of Paddy Brennan for Rebecca Curtis.
Grand Mogul would be a fairytale winner for the tiny Dartmoor stable of Gail Haywood, who has only five horses in training. Her owners acquired Grand Mogul in the spring for £11,000, not a bad price for a horse which has won races for Gordon Elliott and Nicky Henderson. However, the fact he is almost nine and only had 10 starts shows he has had his problems. He hasn’t run since March, but every time he’s won has been after a break of at least six months. Getting placed would be a great achievement.
It’s an early start at Chepstow, with the first race at 11.53 and the last at 3.22, so racegoers can get back home early if they don’t opt to stay for The Oasis Experience, who will be performing after racing finishes.