Sandown warms up for Saturday’s Tingle Creek Chase card with six races on Friday opening at 12.50 with a juvenile hurdle.
The form horse here has to be Baraka De Thaix after his fine third in the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham last month. He made a bad mistake at the second last but stuck on gamely up the hill behind Golden Doyen. There aren’t many better four-year-olds on the scene at the moment and David Pipe’s grey should score.
The one I fear most is the Andrew Balding-trained newcomer Storm Force Ten. He was a decent handicapper on the flat, winning a good prize at the Chester May meeting. If he transfers that form to the jumps, he could make up into a decent prospect in the famous Waley-Cohen colours of Long Run.
The Grade 2 Winter Hurdle has attracted only five runners but four of them are unbeaten over hurdles. Nicky Henderson’s Vyta Du Roc is the obvious favourite after winning at Cheltenham last time but I am more taken with Tara Point. The grey is a daughter of Kayf Tara and has not been off the bridle to win her two starts for Paul Nicholls. It won’t be plain sailing with Ordo Ab Chao and Shantou Bob also in the field but Tara Point looks worth a bet at around 3-1.
The Nicholls and Twiston-Davies combination could make a quick return to the winners’ enclosure in the following handicap chase with Black Thunder. He was a promising novice last season and put up an excellent effort when second at Ascot in the United House Handicap Chase. He had the subsequent Hennessy Gold Cup third Merry King behind him that day.
He was beaten fair and square by Corrin Wood at Warwick last season but I am not convinced that he was at his best in the heavy ground. He looked far happier at Ascot last time and can make his fitness count against the McCain horse who is having his first run since the RSA Chase in March.
The final race on the card looks booked for Henderson’s Theinval who escapes a penalty for a win in a Conditional Jockeys’ race at Kempton last time. That was a big improvement on his first run, a common theme with Henderson’s horses this season. The one I fear most is Coup De Grace who ran on well to finish fourth at Cheltenham in a competitive handicap last time. He could be worth an each-way bet at a decent price.
Baraka De Thaix 12.50 @4-7 Betfair
Tara Point 1.55 @3-1 Coral
Black Thunder 2.30 @8-11 Skybet
Theinval 3.30 @9-4 Coral
Coup de Grace @8-1 Coral each-way
