ITV Racing Preview: Will Altior make a winning return in the Tingle Creek?
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Odds ahead of the action from Sandown and Aintree
ITV Racing has a bumper afternoon in store, featuring action from Sandown’s Tingle Creek Festival and Becher Chase day at Aintree.
Altior makes his return in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase. Will the superstar fend off the likes of Greaneteen and Politologue to deliver?
Walk In The Mill is bidding to become the first horse to win the Becher Chase three years in a row, while three of the highest-rated chasers go head-to-head in the Many Clouds Chase.
Sandown
13:50 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
14:25 Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1)
15:00 London National Handicap Chase
15:35 December Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
Aintree
13:30 Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
14:05 Best Odds Guaranteed Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle (Listed)
14:40 Many Clouds Chase (Grade 2)
15:15 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase
Can Walk In The Mill complete a historic threepeat? He only finished seventh on his last run at Ascot in October, but that’s not necessarily a bad omen in this case. His two previous victories in this race were preceded by disappointing performances.
Our traders think he could be pushed all the way by Le Breuil, who won a gruelling National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last year. He’s not quite lived up to that display since then but could raise his game here.
Our man Tom Scudamore will be aboard Ramses De Teillee and he’s feeling good about his chances, saying “he’s a rejuvenated horse this year and is seeing out his races much better”.
All eyes are on Altior – will he make a triumphant return? Nicky Henderson’s star was last seen winning at Newbury in February, before being ruled out of the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March.
At 10-years-old and with almost a year since his last run, can he recapture his best form? If there’s any hint of rustiness, Greaneteen could take full advantage. Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old has four wins from five runs over obstacles and looks like a potential Grade 1 chaser.
Politologue could be worth keeping an eye on too. He won the 2017 renewal and triumphed in the Champion Chase last time out. Altior was a late withdrawal at Cheltenham, likely to the relief of Nicholls – Altior has won the three races they’ve both featured in.
We’ve got a cracking line-up in the Many Clouds Chase, with Santini, Native River and Frodon all having genuine hopes of winning the Gold Cup in March.
Santini makes his reappearance here and while Nicky Henderson has admitted to having “a few reservations” about his chances, he’s won on each of his previous three seasonal debuts for the Seven Barrows handler.
Frodon may have an advantage in terms of fitness, having won at Cheltenham back in October, while Native River won this race last year and returns to action after missing the Festival through injury.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
