Racecards
14:35 Sandown Park
William Hill - Tingle Creek Trophy Chase (Grade 1) (Class A)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 12421-3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 158
led until 4 out, stayed pressing winner, ridden and still chance 3 out, held 2 out, kept on as winner idled run-in
- Form 53543-4
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey R Thornton
in touch in 5th, stayed on to chase leading trio approaching 3 out, weakened soon after
- Form 53/112-2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led 4 out, in command 2 out, 4 lengths clear when hit last, idled and driven out run-in
- Form 71F118-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
pulled hard, pressed leader to 6th, weakened 4 out
- Form 213-122
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
chased leaders in 4th, jumped slowly 5th and soon outpaced, stayed on under pressure to take 4th before 2 out, kept on run-in but no chance with front pair
- Form 111114-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer M G Rimell
- Jockey G Lee
held up in last but in touch, headway to chase leading pair 4 out, one pace under pressure from next
- Form 810/1F-4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 155
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up in last pair, blundered and fell 3rd
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Kauto Star is taken to beat Ashley Brook and Monkerhostin, with Oneway set to run well on his reappearance. Kauto Star bids to join an illustrious list of past winners of this event, that includes the likes of Sound Man, Flagship Uberalles and more recently Moscow Flyer. The latter is sidelined at present, and of course there is no Azertyuiop either, but Paul Nicholls will argue that he still has a strong hand with Kauto Star who definitely has the potential to be every bit as good as those mentioned. On what he has achieved so far, he has a bit to prove, as the past ten winners of this prestigious event had already bagged a Grade 1 contest by the time they had lined up, and all of them without exception had run at least seven times over fences during their career. Kauto Star can boast none of those qualities, but remains a horse of enormous potential. Second to Monkerhostin on his return in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, he meets that opponent on four-pounds better terms, and although nine-pounds worse off with the third, Ashley Brook, is taken to come out on top over Kevin Bishop's star. Mark Rimell could not have his string in better fettle, which augurs well for the chance of Oneway, fourth in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham and something of a course specialist round here already, having a two-from-two record over fences. If fit enough, he will run a big race and makes more appeal than Locksmith and the selection's stablemate Sporazene. Hand Inn Hand was a pleasing fourth to Impek on his Huntingdon return, but the suspicion is that he needs further, and so, while we are fully aware of Kauto Star's lack of big-race experience, the vibes emanating from Ditcheat suggest that he is fully expected to go right to the top of the two-mile tree this season. Mick Fitzgerald was on last Saturday's big winner Trabolgan, and can now prove to be an able substitute for the injured Ruby Walsh by grabbing this weekend's headlines as well.
Formwatch
Ashley Brook (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Led, clear when blundered 8th, headed 4 out, weakened next, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Monkerhostin (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Nov.
Hand Inn Hand 8-1 (11-0) Led after 2nd, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 12l behind Impek (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Kauto Star (FR) 3-1 (10-9) In touch, headway 5th, went 2nd 7th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, no extra, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Monkerhostin (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Nov.
Locksmith 14-1 (11-3) Led, jumped slow 3rd, headed 8th, weakened and behind after 10th, 8th of 9, 26l behind Well Chief (11-10) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr.
Monkerhostin (FR) 5-2fav (11-6) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway 12th, chased leaders 4 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Impek (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Oneway (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up, headway approaching 7th, hit 9th, stayed on one pace from 2 out, never near leaders, 4th of 8, 22l behind Moscow Flyer (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Sporazene (IRE) 10-3jt-fav (11-5) Held up, in touch, mistake 4th, lost place 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 9, 5l behind Royal Shakespeare (11-1) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.