Tag Archive for: Greaneteen

2024 Tingle Creek Chase Trends

Run over 2m the Betfair-sponsored Tingle Creek Chase will be staged this year at Sandown Park racecourse on 3rd December and is always seen as a good guide to the Queen Mother Champion Chase run at the Cheltenham Festival later in the season – with Master Minded (2008), Moscow Flyer (2004), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Sire de Grugy (2013), Dodging Bullets (2014) and Altior (2018) the last horses to do the Tingle Creek/Champion Chase double in the same season.

Paul Nicholls has won the Tingle Creek a massive 12 times, while in 2023 the Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon won the prize.

Here at Geegeez, we take a look back at recent winners and gives you the key Tingle Creek trends to look out for ahead of the 2024 renewal.

Recent Tingle Creek Winners

2023 - JONBON (30/100 fav)
2022 – EDWARDSTONE (5/1)
2021 – GREANETEEN (12/1)
2020 - POLITOLOGUE (11/8 fav)
2019 – DEFI DU SEUIL (2/1 fav)
2018 – ALTIOR (8/13 fav)
2017 – POLITOLOGUE (7/2)
2016 – UN DE SCEAUX (5/4 fav)
2015 – SIRE DE GRUGY (10/3)
2014 – DODGING BULLETS (9/1)
2013 – SIRE DE GRUGY (7/4 jfav)
2012 – SPRINTER SACRE (4/11 fav)
2011 – SIZING EUROPE (11/8 fav)
2010 – MASTER MINDED (10/11 fav)
2009 – TWIST MAGIC (9/4)
2008 – MASTER MINDED (4/7 fav)
2007 – TWIST MAGIC (5/1)
2006 – KAUTO STAR (4/9 fav)
2005 – KAUTO STAR (5/2 jfav)
2004 – MOSCOW FLYER (2/1)
2003 – MOSCOW FLYER (6/4 fav)
2002 – CENKOS (6/1)

Tingle Creek Chase Trends

21/22 – Aged 9 or younger
20/22 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
19/22 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
19/22 – Had won a Grade One chase before
18/22 – Had won at least 4 times over fences before
17/22 – Aged between 5-8 years-old
16/22 – Placed favourites
16/22 – French bred
16/22 – Officially rated 165 or higher
15/22 – Returned 5/2 or shorter in the betting
14/22 – Winning distance – 3 lengths or more
14/22 – Raced within the last 4 weeks
14/22 – Had won a chase race at Sandown before
14/22 – Winning favourites (2 joint)
13/22 – Won last time out
11/22 – Trained by Paul Nicholls (12 wins in total)
6/22 - Won by a past winner
6/22 – Won the Queen Mother Champion Chase (Altior, Dodging Bullets, Sire de Grugy, Sprinter Sacre – Master Minded & Moscow Flyer) at the Cheltenham Festival later that season
The average winning SP in the last 22 years is 11/4

Note: The 2010 renewal was staged at Cheltenham

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Jonbon following Altior route in chasing Sandown glory

Jonbon has the chance to replicate the achievement of Seven Barrows alumni Altior when he lines up in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.

Nicky Henderson’s dual Champion Chase winner followed up his Arkle success in 2017 by landing this as a fencing rookie – his first of three victories in the race – and Jonbon will now also attempt to win it as a novice, stepping into open company for the first time.

Although he fell short in his own quest for Cheltenham Festival glory when second behind El Fabiolo in the Arkle, Henderson’s strapping seven-year-old got back on track with a bloodless 43-length success in the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree and now returns to a course and distance he has already tasted Grade One glory at this season.

“He’s come out of the race in Liverpool good and Nicky is really happy with him,” said Frank Berry, racing manager for Jonbon’s owner JP McManus.

“He was very good at Aintree and did everything well and it’s a nice race for him to wind up the season and step into open company. He’s in good form and he will hopefully give a good account of himself. You will know where you stand for the start of the new season and we can take it from there.

“He has the right man training him and he’s happy with him.”

This race has seen no shortage of repeat winners in the past 10 years and another horse looking to follow in the footsteps of Altior is Greaneteen.

Greaneteen, ridden by jockey Harry Cobden, clears a fence on their way to winning the bet365 Celebration Chase last year
Greaneteen, ridden by jockey Harry Cobden, clears a fence on their way to winning the bet365 Celebration Chase last year (Nigel French/PA)

Paul Nicholls has won this race seven times in the past and his course specialist has an impeccable record at the Esher track, winning this the past two years and now searching for a hat-trick on the back of a third in the Champion Chase last time.

“He loves the track and he comes good at this time of year,” said Nicholls.

“He ran very well in the Champion Chase and would have been second if he hadn’t made a horrendous mistake at the top of the hill, which is unlike him.

“He did well to finish third and he seems in good order. He will need to be to beat Jonbon because I think Jonbon is an improving horse. It will be a good race and we think we have quite a nice chance.”

Henry de Bromhead’s consistent Captain Guinness was a place ahead of Greaneteen at Prestbury Park and looks to add to Special Tiara’s 2015 victory for the Knockeen handler, while in fourth at the Festival was Gary Moore’s Editeur Du Gite.

Prior to that the nine-year-old had caused a shock in both the Desert Orchid and the Clarence House and would prove a fitting winner for connections who tasted success in this race with Sire De Grugy in both 2013 and 2014.

“It would be a lovely way to end the year if he could win,” said Moore.

Editeur Du Gite has won both the Desert Orchid and Clarence House Chase this season
Editeur Du Gite has won both the Desert Orchid and Clarence House Chase this season (Nigel French/PA)

“It’s no easy task with Jonbon in there and the two that beat him at Cheltenham. But hopefully the ground will be a bit better for him this time. It isn’t his favourite way round but he’s in relatively good order so fingers crossed.

“He’s had a good year and this would be a nice way to end it. It would be lovely to win it again, it’s a race I like, I think it’s a great race and a great spectacle. We’ll do our best.”

The field is complete by Venetia Williams’ Funambule Sivola, who was an early faller in the Champion Chase but won the Game Spirit on his penultimate start.



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Greaneteen purposely ‘a tiny bit short’ ahead of Game Spirit spin

Greaneteen will tune up for the Queen Mother Champion Chase when lining up in the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old was beaten two lengths into fourth in the Cheltenham Festival day two feature in 2021, but missed out last year through a setback.

He returned to record his third Grade One success in the Celebration Chase later that spring and was in rude health once again in his seasonal reappearance when making all to take the Haldon Gold Cup.

However, the champion trainer believes Greaneteen ran flat when subsequently second to Edwardstone in defence of his Tingle Creek crown in December and is keen to stress he has left plenty to work on ahead of his Newbury outing, with bigger things to come for Harry Cobden’s mount later in the season.

He said: “He won the Haldon Gold Cup and was then second in the Tingle Creek.

“He loves good ground and we always keep him for the spring. Last year we made the mistake of running him over Christmas at Kempton on soft ground but this was always going to be his prep for the Champion Chase as I’d worked out several of the others were going different places.

“This is a nice race for him but I have left plenty to work on from now until March, as opposed to when he ran in the Haldon Gold Cup. He was ready for his life that day and it was a fantastic performance off his mark and he won nicely.

Jockey Harry Cobden (left) and trainer Paul Nicholls (right) celebrate after Greaneteen wins the Betway Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter
Jockey Harry Cobden (left) and trainer Paul Nicholls (right) celebrate after Greaneteen wins the Betway Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (David Davies/PA)

“I think he ran a bit flat in the Tingle Creek. Whether that was because I had him ready for the Haldon Gold Cup early, rather than use it as a stepping stone and him improve into the Tingle Creek, he may just have been a bit flat.

“So, we’ve left him a tiny little bit short on purpose, he goes well fresh and obviously we are hoping this will set him up for the Champion Chase and the Celebration.”

Venetia Williams’ Funambule Sivola edged out Sceau Royal to win this 12 months ago before going on to finish second to Energumene in the Champion Chase, but has failed to hit those heights this term and could not get involved in the rearranged Clarence House Chase recently.

In contrast, Joe Tizzard’s Elixir De Nutz left behind a disappointing start to the campaign at Ascot to go close at Doncaster before registering an impressive success at Wincanton last time.

“When he was second at Doncaster we pulled well clear of the third horse and that was a super run, then he put in a good performance at Wincanton over two and a half (miles),” jockey Brendan Powell told Talksport 2.

“He’s probably got a little bit to find on ratings, but there is no reason why he shouldn’t be bang there. He loves it over two miles and Newbury should suit him, so hopefully he can get into a nice rhythm. He stays the two miles really well, so hopefully we will be picking up some prize-money.”

Another horse arriving in peak condition who has been given the chance to test the waters at graded level is Peter Niven’s Malystic.

The nine-year-old has thrived in handicap company the last twice and having reached a career high rating, is reported to be thriving ahead of his hat-trick bid amongst elite company.

“He’s come out of his race a couple of weeks ago really well,” said Niven.

“He’s obviously very high in the handicap and we are short of races really. There is another handicap at Doncaster at the start of March, but he seems so well and I thought if he’s going to have a go in a graded race, this might be right one.

“Obviously Paul’s horse is very good, but you could say there’s question marks about everyone else. I don’t envisage beating Greaneteen, but anything can happen in a horse race as we all know.

“I don’t know what the ground is like, I keep hearing varied reports and if I go down there and it’s very quick, we’ll turn round and bring him home again. But hopefully it is fine.”

Fergal O’Brien’s consistent performer Mortlach completes the quintet heading to post.



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Betfair Hurdle day at Newbury is one Nicholls looks forward to

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is readying a strong squad for one of his favourite meetings of the season at Newbury on Saturday.

Two solid chances in the feature Betfair Hurdle with Hacker Des Places and Rubaud, Hitman looking to get back on track in the race named after former Ditcheat star Denman and McFabulous aiming to emulate Bravemansgame in the opening race, there is plenty to go at.

But it is Greaneteen in the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase Nicholls will be watching with most interest, given how the Queen Mother Champion Chase picture has changed in recent weeks.

The defeats of Energumene, Edwardstone and Blue Lord have opened up the race and Nicholls hopes his three-time Grade One winner can re-enter the picture.

“He ran very well in the Champion Chase two years ago when I don’t think he was anywhere near as good a horse as he is now and he wasn’t beaten too far,” said Nicholls.

Greaneteen won the Haldon Gold Cup earlier in the season
Greaneteen won the Haldon Gold Cup earlier in the season (David Davies/PA)

“The last couple of weeks the (Champion Chase) waters have been muddied a little bit, which often happens at this time of year, but we’ve always thought this was the perfect race to run him before Cheltenham.

“He loves good ground and I’ve left him a little short rather than have him fully wound up like I did for the Haldon Gold Cup, which was possibly why he was a little bit flat in the Tingle Creek this year.

“We’ve left plenty to work on, he’s nice and fresh so hopefully he’ll run very well en route to Cheltenham.”

In the Betfair Hurdle Nicholls saddles the second- and third-favourites behind Emmet Mullins’ Filey Bay.

“Hacker Des Places keeps on going up a little bit and has a 5lb penalty so we could have done without that – he did surprise me by winning the other day so he could well be improving. Angus (Cheleda) does take the 5lb off,” he said.

“Angus gets on very well with him. He won at Aintree on him and the other day at Cheltenham and rides him most days at home so that 5lb is handy. He probably learned the last day not to be in front too soon.

“Rubaud has only got a mark of 130 and I actually think that’s OK compared to some of my other novices.

“It’s a competitive race, but there’s no Champion Hurdle horse in it like there can be some years so it’s a good competitive handicap.

“You always hope your novices are decent, he’d only had one poor run last year but he came from France and hadn’t acclimatised. I did always like him and I didn’t want to run again after Kempton and risk getting a penalty, praying it was going to be good ground. We’re hoping we’ve got a live chance.”

McFabulous may not go on to emulate King George winner Bravemansgame – who won this race 12 months ago – but he is already rated highly.

Nicholls said: “He’s got to run off a mark of 153 which is quite tough, but there are only two others declared. One is getting a stone off him and the other a stone and a half so that evens it up a bit.

“He loves good ground, won very nicely in a Grade Two earlier in the season and while he might have plenty of weight I’m sure he’ll take a bit of beating.”

Nicholls also runs two nice types in Fire Flyer and Meatloaf in the closing Betfair-sponsored bumper, but says nothing should be read into jockey bookings.

“In the bumper, which is always a nice race – we ran Al Ferof in it before he was second to Cue Card at Cheltenham – we have Fire Flyer who won nicely at Ascot, we like him a lot, and Meatloaf who won at Wincanton and was just touched off at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day,” said Nicholls.

“Jockey-wise Lorcan (Williams) won on Fire Flyer and Harry (Cobden) has ridden Meatloaf so I made the decisions. I wouldn’t know which is better than the other.”

For once there appears to be little doubt whether a big weekend meeting will take place, with clerk of the course Keith Ottesen and his team covering the track from the frost earlier in the week.

Ottesen said: “We’re in a good place and will be fine for Saturday. It dropped to minus 2C overnight, but by 7am there was no frost. It’s going to be slow, good ground and it’s very different to what it was in November when we were having to water it a little bit to get it to good.

“It doesn’t look as though we’re going to freeze overnight on Friday so we’ll probably take the covers off on Friday.”



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