What a Saturday of racing coming up with the second day of the Tingle Creek Festival, the Unibet Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree over the National fences and twice Grand National winner Tiger Roll making his seasonal debut in the Unibet Many Clouds Chase, with the cross country at Cheltenham looking his key target. Ground conditions look likely to get much more testing at Aintree and Native River Unibet 17/8 in the Unibet Many Clouds Chase can make this a true stamina test and fend off favourite Protektorat and Imperial Aura.     

At Sandown in the Henry VIII Novices Chase, Third Time Lucki, one of my Ten To Follow, has won twice at Cheltenham this season over fences and can make it three on the bounce at Unibet 6/4 to beat easy Newbury winner last weekend Il Ridoto and Edwardstone.

The Tingle Creek is one of my races of the year and I’m looking forward to seeing Chacun Pour Soi, Nube Negra and Greaneteen renew rivalry at one of my favourite racecourses.  

Enjoy whether #athome or at the races.

See you at Sandown.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

2.25 Sandown – Tingle Creek Chase Grade 1 (1m 7½f)

Nube Negra at The Festival finished an unlucky second to Put The Kettle On in the Champion Chase, with Chacun Pour Soi back in third. Admittedly Chacun Pour Soi was then superb in the Champion Chase at Punchestown, with Nube Negra delivering a below par performance back in third. However, on seasonal debut at Cheltenham in the Shloer Chase Nube Negra (tipped in my Unibet blog) he showed he was still improving when beating Politologue by six lengths. Nube Negra can step up again and the ground conditions of good, good to soft in places with little rain forecast look much more in his favour.

Unibet 17/8 win

2.40 Aintree – Unibet Becher Handicap Chase (National Fences) (3m 2f)

Snow Leopardess (nap) has never fallen in her career, is a fine jumper and has a strong chance if adapting to these unique fences, which looks likely. She won well on seasonal debut last month at Bangor on soft going, beating Windsor Avenue over three miles when delivering a career best. Last season this grey won a Class 2 at Haydock half a furlong short of today’s trip, was second in a Roland Meyrick at Wetherby and finished fourth in the National Hunt Chase to Galvin at The Festival over three miles six furlongs. She will handle more testing conditions, with rain currently forecast and Snow Leopardess, who is having her eighth chase start, has more progress to come.

Unibet 11/2 win

Achille is another good jumper and can run a big race on seasonal debut for Venetia Williams, who showed last week with Cloudy Glen, that her string can win competitive races after an absence. This

grey has been relatively lightly raced in recent years for the yard and came back after a 427 break to finish second in the Classic Chase at Warwick this year. He was then runner-up to Lord Mesnil in the Grand National Trial at Haydock, when just touched off, ahead of finishing sixth in the Midlands Grand National on his last start in March. Three of his four chase wins have been over three miles and he obviously has the stamina too in what looks likely to be a testing renewal.

Unibet 12/1 each way    

3.00 Sandown – London National Handicap Chase (3m 4f)

Christmas In April, for the resurgent Tizzard team, looked in good order last time out when runner-up at Carlisle behind the still-improving Hold That Taught, trying to give him 6lb after racing enthusiastically throughout. Back in May, on his penultimate start, he won in good style at Newton Abbot beating Highest Sun. He faced mission impossible, looking back, when trying to give Cloudy Glen weight in the Southern National last year. Christmas In April come here in good form and will go well.

Unibet 15/2 each way

3.15 Aintree – Unibet 2021 Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Hurdle (2m 4f)

Tamar Bridge made it three wins from four starts when easily winning on his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby in a novice hurdle for the inform Olly Murphy team at the end of October. He had previously beaten Bass Rock in a match in the heavy at Ayr, with the runner-up third to Dans Le Vent in the Stayers’ Hurdle on Haydock’s big jumps day last month this is good form. Tamar Bridge runs off a favourable looking mark of 128 and is proven in testing conditions if the forecast rain comes.

Unibet 7/2 win

3.35 Sandown – December Handicap Hurdle Listed (2m)

Heure De Glorie, a four-year-old filly by Kapgarde, is worth an each way wager off bottom weight (three pounds out of the handicap) on Handicap debut. Heure De Glorie won on debut in France and then finished second to Bellatrixsa at Huntingdon in March when travelling well for a long way. She has had a wind op; ground will be fine, and this filly is an interesting runner.

Unibet 16/1 each way 

Christmas is just around the corner and the highlight of the Jump Racing calendar is upon us at Sandown Park this weekend (3rd and 4th December). The Tingle Creek Festival is always a magical two days of high quality racing and is a great chance to spot your winners for the Cheltenham Festival next Spring. The Wine Tipster is excited to be presenting at Sandown this year in the fantastic award-winning Equus Restaurant where he will be talking food, drink and horse racing.

The Opening Day – Tingle Creek Friday 3rd December

Today’s 6 race card is a must watch from start to finish, with the Grade Two Winter Novices’ Hurdle headlining the day. The Wine Tipster is looking out for Mahler’s Promise, who is a superb jumper and has good course form in the 1.50 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. In the Grade Two Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle at 2.25 Harper’s Brook, who was really impressive when winning a Novice Hurdle at Carlisle on seasonal debut, looks open to plenty of improvement, whilst in the 3.00 Handicap Chase One True King can strike for the inform Nigel Twiston-Davies team. In the final race of the day the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Mr Harp, off bottom weight, has been overlooked. He put in some good performances last season when winning at Uttoxeter and then running well at Warwick in a hot Handicap Hurdle. Mr Harp will come on plenty from his seasonal debut at Ffos Las.

Watch the racing on Racing TV and ITV4.

Tingle Creek Saturday 4th December

Saturday is a storming race day with two Grade One races on the card – The Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and The Tingle Creek Chase which is 1 mile 7 furlongs and 119 yards, has 13 fences, and 52 years of history. It is named in honour of the great National Hunt racehorse from the 1970s who won the Sandown Park Pattern Handicap Chase 3 times.

One of The Wine Tipster’s favourite racing moments of all time was the 2018 Tingle Creek Chase which was run in appalling conditions but Altior and Un De Sceaux raced heroically with Altior just taking the win. An emotionally charged day for all watching, here’s hoping to some more racing history moments at this year’s Tingle Creek.

Check out his Unibet Racing blog for selections and includes the top races from Aintree too.

Watch the racing on Racing TV and ITV4.

Celebrating In Style

Get ready for Christmas at the Tingle Creek Festival this year with hospitality and entertainment to get you in the festive spirit. Join The Wine Tipster in the Equus Restaurant for a stunning view of the racecourse and top quality hospitality.

It’s wine time, and the perfect accompaniment to the races, whether at home or at Sandown Park, is a glass of the wonderful Louis M Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 from Sonoma, California. This wine just shows how brilliant Cabernet Sauvignon from California can be, with intense dark fruit flavours and spicy and herbal notes (available from The Great Wine Co. £22).

Staying in California, the Bogle Chardonnay 2019, is a lovely balance of creamy and buttery flavours, with gentle oaky notes and attractive crisp acidity (also available from The Great Wine Co. £16.50).

For those of you looking for a glass of bubbly then try the Ruggeri Prosecco DOC Rosé Millesimato 2020 Brut from Treviso in the Veneto region of North-East Italy. Their white Ruggeri Prosecco DOC Argeo Brut, Treviso also has a lovely freshness, with citrus fruit and good acidity too. Both available from the Great Wine Co. (Rosé £13.95, white £11.10 on offer).

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Here’s to another smashing Tingle Creek Festival – keep up with The Wine Tipster over the weekend via Social Media, and share how you’re celebrating the meeting. Cheers!

Start the festive season with a bang this year with the highlight of Sandown’s jump racing – the Tingle Creek Festival. For the first Friday and Saturday of December, Sandown hosts two days of superb jump racing, which this year can be celebrated in person by a limited number of spectators. Don’t worry if you didn’t manage to get tickets, they sold out in 17 minutes! However you’re celebrating this year, read on for The Wine Tipster’s Sandown tips.

Friday 4th December

Tingle Creek Friday opens the festival with a top line up of races.

The Wine Tipster is especially excited to see his My Racing Manager Friends runner Funambule Sivola in the 1.50 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase! Funambule Sivola won impressively at Wetherby on chasing debut last week and is carrying a seven pound penalty for that success today. This is much more competitive contest and his slick jumping will need to come to the fore this afternoon.

My Racing Manager was created by Elli Morgan, and The Wine Tipster is delighted to be involved. My Racing Manager has had two Cheltenham Festival winners with Coo Star Sivola and Flying Tiger.

The race card for Friday:

12:45 – 3m (3m37y) Sandown Park Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-130)

1:15 – 1m7½f (1m7f119y) Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-125)

1:50 – 2m4f (2m4f10y) Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-135)

2:25 – 2m4f (2m3f173y) Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)

3:00 – 2m7½f (2m7f98y) Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+)

3:35 – 2m4f (2m3f173y) Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Series Qualifier) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-130)

Saturday 5th December

Tingle Creek Saturday hosts two top class Grade 1 races – the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and The Tingle Creek Chase. With a history of over 40 years and named after a Jumps racehorse of the 1970s, The Tingle Creek Chase is one of the key races of the season with a purse of over £68,000. Here’s the line up:

12:05 – 2m (1m7f216y) The 1.50 Introductory Juvenile Hurdle (Gbb Race) (Class 2) (3yo)

12:40 – 2m (1m7f216y) “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Gbb Race) (Class 3) (4yo+)

1:15 – 2m (1m7f216y) Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Gbb Race) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-120)

1:50 – 1m7½f (1m7f119y)  Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Gbb Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)

2:25 – 1m7½f (1m7f119y) Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)

3:00 – 3m5f (3m4f166y) National Handicap Chase (Class 2) (5yo+)

3:35 – 2m (1m7f216y) December Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)

Look out for The Wine Tipster’s Unibet Blog on Saturday.

At Home

• Don’t miss a thing – catch every race live on Racing TV and ITV, and even rewatch highlights from racing history via Racing Replays (available 20 minutes after the winner crosses the line!).
• The Raceday App is a must for the At Home experience. Get your own digital racecard, exclusive content, and access to the Raceday 5 Game with a chance to win a bottle of Coates & Seely Rosé NV and £10,000!
• Get inspiration from others’ At Home Celebration creations here, don’t forget to share yours with The Wine Tipster, Sandown Park and The Jockey Club.
• Need to brush up on your racing knowledge and jargon? Check out Racing Explained for all the confusing terms.
• Keep up to date with all the entertainment events from The Jockey Club with their Content Hub.

Food & Drink

Taking inspiration from The Jockey Club, The Wine Tipster is looking forward to making this week’s featured dish, Braised Shank of Herdwick Lamb with Root Veg, Red Onion Jam and Greens. See the recipe from Senior Sous Chef Lawrie Jeffries here.

For something sweet, why not try a Vegan Lemon Cheesecake from Head Chef Warren O’Connor – a real winner with vegans and non-vegans alike.

To accompany a hearty winter dish this Festival, The Wine Tipster’s Top 5 Red Wines are a must for the cooler months. In particular, Don David Blend of Terroirs Malbec 2019, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina (Co-op £9) has a great autumnal flavours of blackberries and blueberries, with sweet spicy notes and silky tannins.

For another classic red, St. Hallett ‘Faith’ Shiraz 2018, Barossa Valley, Australia (Majestic £16.99 and £14.99 mixed case of six) is a must try, full of bold flavours of pepper and plums – perfect for a roast.

For a true celebration, pop open some bubbly this weekend. Moët & Chandon, official Champagne of The Jockey Club, is always a treat. The Wine Tipster especially loves their Moët Impérial, with its iconic fruitiness and elegant maturity.

Coates and Seely, official sparkling wine sponsors, is also perfect for Jump season. Pop open a bottle of their wonderful English Sparkling Brut Reserve NV for a hit of green apple freshness and a rounded palate.

Lastly, Rosé – a great all-rounder. Château Léoube’s Rosé de Léoube (Daylesford £18.99) is an elegant and dry wine with a perfect combination of minerals and fruit.

The Wine Tipster hopes that whether you are attending The Tingle Creek Festival in person or enjoying it at home, that you have a most wonderful weekend and some wins! Look out for his Unibet Blog on Saturday for tips.

What a Saturday of racing with a cracking card at Sandown, including the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase and the Dublin Festival, with four Grade 1’s on today’s card. There is more top action tomorrow at the Dublin Festival.
Today there is also racing at Kempton, Musselburgh, Wetherby and Lingfield.
Have a great Saturday and check out my selections below. Cheers!

1.50 Sandown – Contenders Hurdle (Listed Race) 2m
Call Me Lord will be a warm order to win a race that his trainer has pretty much farmed with Buveur D’Air in recent years, and this hardy sort has stacks of good Sandown form to call upon, most of it in ground similar to today’s, too. In fact, it’s been a long-held belief among many punters that he simply had to go right-handed, but he put that theory to bed with a game win in the International at Cheltenham back in December, and he will be hard to beat.
However, the concession of 6lb to the improving novice Eldorado Allen certainly gives the latter a chance. He impressed when only going down by less than a length over C&D last time out, travelling nicely and pulling clear with the winner from two out. He gave the useful Severano a beating here back in 2018 as well and although he’s clearly not been easy to train, he now looks back on track, and can topple Call Me Lord and cause a minor upset here.
Selection: Eldorado Allen win 9/4 Unibet

3.00 Sandown – Handicap Hurdle 3m
Plenty you can give some sort of chance to including Bold Plan, who was an early casualty at Ascot last time but had looked impressive when scoring at Haydock the time before and could easily get back on track. The unexposed Big Shark still has plenty more to offer, as does the David Pipe trained Remastered, who went down fighting at Chepstow, with Welsh National winner Potters Corner just proving too good for him.
However, at a much bigger price the vote goes to Captain Tommy, from a yard going great guns at present, that of Harry Whittington. His third in the Huntingdon Pertemps qualifier last time out looks a very solid piece of form, and despite the fact the handicapper nudges him up a couple of pounds for that, that still leaves him on a mark well below what the handicapper first thought him capable of, and he now looks to be going the right way. If he’s designs on running in the Final at the Festival, he’ll need to be either winning this, or going close, as he needs a rise in the weights to get in.
Selections: Captain Tommy each way 28/1 Unibet
Bold Plan each way 7/1 Unibet

1.25 Leopardstown – Dublin Chase Grade 1 2m
A terrific race for the money that’s probably only missing Defi Du Seuil, and you’d have as good a race as what the Champion Chase itself promises to be.
A Plus Tard and Chacun Pour Soi met here over Christmas in a Grade 1 chase, the former coming out on top after the latter just landed a bit flat-footed over the last. It’s entirely possible that form will be franked again, but Min is a class act and might have too much for the pair of them anyway.
His performance over 20f in the Melling Chase last April was one of the highlights of the season, and although he found Un De Sceaux too good for him in the Irish Champion Chase subsequently, he lost little in defeat. He didn’t have to be at his best to win here in December, but that should have put him spot on for this, and he can win it again before going on to Cheltenham.
Selection: Min win 9/4 Unibet

3.10 – Champion Hurdle Grade 1 2m
Cheltenham might not be the happiest of hunting ground for Sharjah (yet?) but Leopardstown certainly is, and he can come out on top in a fascinating Champion Hurdle that should answer a few questions.
The first is whether the drop back to 2m will bother the unbeaten Honeysuckle, who looked outstanding when beating Bacardys in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in December, and the way she travelled there suggests she’ll have the speed to cope with the drop back. But that is still a question, whereas with Sharjah we know this is his trip, his track and ground, and he was every bit as impressive when defeating Petit Mouchoir in the Matheson, recording a huge speed figure in the process. He has to give 7lb to the mare, but I think he’s more than capable of doing so.
Selection: Sharjah win 6/4 Unibet

2.45 Wetherby – Towton Novices’ Chase 3m
All six can be given some sort of chance, but the improving Boldmere makes the most appeal. Useful over hurdles, he’s proving himself even better over fences, with ready wins at Leicester and Doncaster, and given there’s still room for improvement with his jumping, it’ll be a surprise if we’ve seen the best of him yet.
Selection: Boldmere win 2/1 Unibet

@TheWineTipster

Betfair Tingle Creek Chase Day is one of the highlights of the Sandown Park calendar. The day combines two Grade 1 races, the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase, both run over 2 miles providing a great day out for everyone.

The meeting is named after a steeplechaser who started his career in the USA and moved to the UK in 1972 to be trained by Tom Jones at Newmarket. Tingle Creek developed an affinity for Sandown Park contesting 6 consecutive runnings of the Sandown Pattern Chase. He never fell in 49 starts over fences in Europe and won a total of 23 races. Even in his retirement, he lost none of his enthusiasm and until 1955, returned ever year to parade past the stands prior to the race named after him.

This year, Sire De Grugy nearly made it three Tingle Creek wins, however after an epic battle, the winner was Un De Sceaux. The Sire De Grugy owners were so proud and sporting even in defeat.

Other highlights came from Altior on the Saturday for Nicky Henderson with an eye-catching success from Messire Des Obeaux and please don’t forget about the second, the very talented Ballyandy. Stunning performances.

During the day, The Wine Tipster was presenting in the Equus restaurant. The star wines were Bolney Estate Pinot Gris 2014 from Sussex, the Morgan Winery Twelve Clones Pinot Noir 2010 from St Lucia California and Brunello di Montalcino 2009 from Banfi in Tuscany. The Equus restaurant gives you a great dining experience as well as great viewing point for the whole of the course, including the famous railway fences.

The Wine Tipster’s winners included the impressive Dino Velvet 8/11, Dashing Oscar 7/2 and Back At Midnight at 10/1, which certainly pleased guests in the Equus restaurant.

The Wine Tipster will be presenting at the William Hill King George Festival on the 26th and 27th December at Kempton. You can also catch The Wine Tipster at Warwick on New Year’s Eve.

Finally a big shout out to Martina Flood and Hannah Bevan from Jockey Club Catering who have done such a top job at Sandown and have been great to work with. All the best for the future.

Cheers!

Last weekend, Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire enjoyed a perfect day for the 60th running of Hennessy Gold Cup. Run over 3 miles and 2½ furlongs, the £200,000 Hennessy Gold Cup is one of racing’s biggest tests for horse and jockey, won by many of racing’s best loved stars including Mandarin, Arkle and Denman. This year, the trophy was presented by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Wine Tipster backed Native River who set off as 7-2 favourite and crossed the line half-a-length in front of fast-finishing Carole’s Destrier (25-1) with Double Ross (50-1) a gallant third. Native River not only jumped well but showed he’s also a stayer in an impressive and exciting finish. It was also The Wine Tipster’s nap of the day in his On The Box column in Racing Plus continuing his fantastic tipping run.

This win formed the middle of a treble for trainer Colin Tizzard, a yard in great form at the moment, enjoying wins for Thistlecrack and Ultragold (9-2) in the bet365 Handicap Chase.

The Wine Tipster took some time out to chat with Radio Berkshire where he shared his tips and enjoyed a warming cocktail appropriately named, Horse’s neck. It is a combination of Hennessy Fine de Cognac with ginger ale and a slice of lime. Ideal for a winter’s day at the Races.
This Friday and Saturday The Wine Tipster will be presenting at The Tingle Creek Christmas Festival at Sandown Park in Esher. Sandown Park is a wonderful racecourse and, as ever,we have two cracking days of racing ahead.

See you there!

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