Racing Tips: Awesome Altior to land a high-class Tingle Creek?

Saturday racing odds, tips and preview

All eyes are on Sandown this afternoon as Altior faces three rivals in an ultra-competitive renewal of the Tingle Creek Chase.

ITV4 viewers can also look forward to Lalor in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, alongside One For Arthur’s battle with Definitly Red in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree.

With eight races to look forward to in total, we’re all set for a pulsating afternoon of action from both the North West and the South East.

Altior – 3:00 Sandown

There’s not a great deal of fun selecting an odds-on shot. But it’s impossible to ignore Altior in one of the highest quality Tingle Creek renewals in many years.

Nicky Henderson’s star has been supreme since switching to fences in 2016. He remains unbeaten in nine as a chaser and has won his last 14 races in total over obstacles. Add in his 100% record from three starts at Sandown – with a total winning distance of over 17l at the Esher track – and it’s difficult to see past the jolly.

Un De Sceaux, Sceau Royal and Saint Calvados are all dangerous opponents, don’t get us wrong. But Altior is different class. And with his favoured soft ground underfoot, the eight-year-old is taken to get his Champion Chase campaign off to the perfect start.

Definitly Red – 2:05 Aintree

It’s time for us to hold our hands up. Tipping Black Corton instead of Definitly Red for the Charlie Hall Chase last month proved to be an unwise decision. Punters will be pleased to know we’ve learned our lesson, and Brian Ellison’s raider gets the nod for the Many Clouds Chase today.

The nine-year-old showed us what we already knew about him at Haydock – he’s tough as old boots. He proved that around here 12 months ago, too, making all to claim the Grade 2 contest by 7l from Cloudy Dream.

This looks like a similar renewal. And with conditions set to be more in his favour than at Haydock last time out, last year’s Cotswold Chase winner should make it two from two this season.

Ultragold – 1:30 Aintree

Temptation is to go for Bryony Frost and Present Man in the opening race of the day. The pair won the Badger Ales Trophy last time out with just over 2l in hand. But things have changed since then. Frost no longer has a 3lb claim and Present Man himself will have to defy a career-high mark of 151.

That leads us to Ultragold. Colin Tizzard’s yard is bang in form after Sizing Tennessee’s success last week and we think the 10-year-old can go well at a nice price on his favoured heavy ground.

The son of Kapgarde landed the Topham Chase around here last season to make it two wins and a place in three runs at Aintree. Boil that down and he’s beaten 64 rivals over his three Merseyside jaunts. He looks a nice price to continue that course form today.

Don’t just take our word for it. See what Joe Tizzard has to say here.

ITV Racing tips:

1:30 Aintree – Ultragold (each-way)

1:50 Sandown – Lalor

2:05 Aintree – Definitly Red

2:25 Sandown – Eragon De Chanay

2:40 Aintree –  Smiling Eliza

3:00 Sandown – Altior

3:15 Aintree – Warriors Tale

3:35 Newbury – Shanroe Santos

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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing