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.

It is proper jump racing weather, and we have top class jump racing too with stars like Cyrname, Delta Work, Presenting Percy, Samcro and Lisnagar Oscar all running today.

There are jump racing cards at Ascot, Down Royal, Wetherby and Ayr, with the last flat racing meeting at Newmarket. There is a twilight meeting at Wolverhampton too.   

2.05 Newmarket – Montrose Fillies’ Stakes Listed Race (1m)

Teodolina for the Richard Hannon yard is definitely worth an each way play here as she will thrive in these conditions. She won on the soft hard held when favourite at Haydock last month over this trip when travelling very comfortably throughout. This is admittedly a tougher contest, yet trip and ground will really suit. Unibet 8/1 each way  

2.40 Newmarket – James Seymour Stakes Listed Race (1m 2f)

The eleven-year-old Air Pilot won this race in 2014 and can take this contest again for the Ralph Beckett team. He was admittedly a bit disappointing at Goodwood on seasonal debut, however he is bound to come on for that run and he won at the Sussex track last season in good style. He will absolutely relish conditions today. Unibet 7/1 each way

2.45 Wetherby – West Yorkshire Handicap Hurdle Grade 2 (3m)

Roksana (nap) simply never fails to run her race and she is bound to be fit for this seasonal appearance. She is getting almost a stone from Lisnagar Oskar and on the only two occasions she’s raced at three miles, she’s been second to Santini and If The Cap Fits, so her form at the trip is rock solid. Unibet 2/1 win

3.05 Ascot – Sodexho Handicap Hurdle (1m 7½f)

Countister for Nicky Henderson has the ability to win a handicap of this nature off this mark and has often gone well fresh in the past – best run to date came after a year’s absence when third in the 2019 County Hurdle. Admittedly was disappointing in her two starts last year, however she is reported to be fit and well in Nicky Henderson’s Unibet racing blog. Unibet 6/1 each way

3.20 Wetherby – Charlie Hall Chase Grade 2 (3m)

This is a cracking renewal of The Charlie Hall and whilst I’m a massive Sam Spinner fan Vinndication is a class act who can have a major season. He panned them in the Sodexo Gold Cup on reappearance last year and ran even better under a welter burden in the Ultima at Cheltenham. Clearly goes well fresh, yard going fine and ground ideal. Unibet 15/8 win

3.40 Ascot – Sodexo Gold Cup (3m)

Militarian often goes off underestimated for these big handicaps, as he did when scoring (on reappearance, as here) at 50-1 over course and distance last year. No fluke about that, ran just as well at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Hasn’t been seen since the Kim Muir and goes well fresh. He is impervious to ground and a good e/w chance off a one-pound higher mark than last year. Unibet 12/1 each way 

The final day of the Ayr Gold Cup Festival with some top-class group racing and the notoriously tricky Silver Cup and Gold Cup. If you can strike here with the Silver Cup and Gold Cup double, you will be doing very well. Interestingly, Graeme Anderson, Clerk of the course says the ground is: ‘good to soft, soft in places and very even right the way across” so no draw bias.

At Newbury, the second day of the Dubai Duty Free Weekend. with the feature the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at 3.25.

Enjoy all the coverage on Racing TV and ITV Racing.

Have a fantastic Saturday.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster  

1.40 Newbury – Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes Group 3 (5f)

Wise Words improved a chunk when fourth at York to Tarboosh and arguably should have won, travelled best and got no run on several occasions. Seems to have been written off as a fluke but is only a four-year-old and might just be he’s improving now. Unibet 8/1 each way

2.30 Ayr – Silver Cup Handicap (6f)

King’s Lynn (nap) is a fascinating handicap debutant for the Andrew Balding team and looks to have been well placed here on a seemingly generous mark of 94. His one start in 2020 when second beaten at odds-on has looked much better since, as the winner Starman won a Listed race at York in great style. Last season King’s Lynn won a twenty-runner contest so is used to the hurly burly of a big field. Providing he shows ground versatility, having only run on good to firm he has a great chance. Unibet 4/1 win

Aberama Gold for trainer Keith Dalgleish won a good nursery at this meeting last year and then took a Listed event (the Rockingham) at York in October. Paid the price for that with inflated handicap mark but coming down in the handicap now and definite signs of improvement on last two starts, particularly from an awful draw at York last time. On this occasion with no forecast draw bias then stall one will be fine and every chance on form. Unibet 18/1 each way

3.25 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes Group 2 (6f)

Rhythm Master Ought to be clear favourite on form, with an emphatic Haydock win on debut and an excellent third in the Group 1 Prix Morny. They have watered the ground so won’t be that quick, which should suit, and is the one to beat. Unibet 11/4 win

3.40 Ayr – QTS Gold Cup Handicap (6f)

Staxton is in much better form than when finishing tenth in this contest in 2019. He has won his last two starts, including the notoriously competitive Great St Wilfrid at Ripon, following a victory at the same course on his previous start. The ground will suit this classy performer, who has dropped the weights and is from the Tim Easterby yard who are on form. Unibet 9/1 each way

Young Fire has to be worth an each way player on his first start over six furlongs. True, he could get taken off his feet over this shorter trip, however he looks well over priced after he turned in a career best at Haydock last time, beating a very progressive sort (that has won again since) with a bit to spare at the finish. Today, importantly, the ground is mainly soft, which will suit and the addition of a visor is interesting too. Unibet 33/1 each way.

One of the highlights of the British flat racing calendar and the summer season, The Qatar Goodwood Festival, or Glorious Goodwood, is an exceptional meeting of horse racing talent and a wonderful five days of events and hospitality. With the current restrictions, racing will primarily be behind closed doors, and Goodwood are encouraging punters to celebrate #GloriousAtHome! Join The Wine Tipster in getting ready for this unforgettable racing event with his range of tips and insider information.

#GloriousAtHome

For most of the festival’s punters, watching and celebrating from home will be the order of the day, and luckily The Wine Tipster has a range of ways to enjoy from the comfort of your home. The races will be covered on ITV and Racing TV and The Wine Tipster will be active across his Social Media and Unibet Racing Blog to engage with audiences about the festival.

 

 

The Glorious Five are the ones to watch this year. Stradivarius will be racing in Tuesday’s Qatar Goodwood Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series) 2m 3y+ £500,000, Kameko and Siskin in Wednesday’s Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (BCS) 1m 3y+ £1,000,000, Deirdre in Thursday’s Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) 1m 1f 197y 3y+ f&m £600,000, and Battaash in Friday’s King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) 5f 3y+ £300,000.

 

 

 

 

 

Hampers

As a drinks specialist, The Wine Tipster is particularly excited about the Glorious Goodwood Hampers on sale to make celebrating the races even easier and more luxurious. Choose one of three hampers to be delivered for a day of the festival – the last day to order being Saturday 25th July to arrive in time for the fifth day of the races. Each wicker hamper, tied with a Goodwood ribbon, is filled with five-courses of delicious local and artisan foods from award-winning British producers, as well as the option to choose a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, Gusbourne English Sparkling Wine or Mirabeau Rosé. See below for a list of menus to choose from.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m looking forward to the Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle as I’m a massive fan of these staying Handicaps and this year’s renewal is certainly competitive. I’m also interested to see Aloe Vera make her return in the 3.00 at Newcastle as I think she could have a very successful 2020.

English Wine Week finishes tomorrow and there is no doubt that Wines of Great Britain have done an excellent job here for all producers as there has been so much engagement here.

I have a bottle of Coates & Seely Brut Reserve NV from the hills of Hampshire chilling on ice to enjoy after racing. Hopefully, celebrating a winner or two!

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Newcastle – Chipchase Stakes (Group 3) 6f   

With Brando disappointing once too often these days, have a look at Kevin Ryan’s other good sprinter, Major Jumbo, here. He’s got the potential plot draw in stall 12, which is going to enable him to grab the stands rail, often favoured, and with no other potential pacemaker he can set his own fractions. Could be hard to pass if so. Unibet 9/2 win

2.40 Newmarket – Criterion Stakes (Group 3) 7f

Limato is the class act but his record after a long break isn’t great, and he may need it. Yafta for the Richard Hannon team keeps threatening to win one of these and his close fifth behind Space Blues at Haydock earlier in the month looks all the better after he won easily in France On Thursday. Drawn next to likely pacemaker Vale Of Kent, should have his chance late. Unibet 9/1 each way

3.00 Newcastle – Exchange Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f

Aloe Vera (nap) was pulled out at Royal Ascot because of the testing conditions on the Thursday. She hasn’t been seen for over a year, since winning a Listed contest at Goodwood on her second start, having won on debut. She looked a very exciting prospect for the Ralph Beckett team, and I have been waiting for her return to action. Unibet 9/4 win

3.35 Northumberland Plate (Handicap) 2m ½f

Cosmelli (Gay Kelleway) clearly runs well at Newcastle as he won the Plate consolation race in 2018 and no arguing his chance from a handicapping point of view, 8lb lower than when a 2½l fifth in the race last year. In good form over trips too short since return and ought to be thereabouts. Unibet 11/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)

Anyonecanhaveitall for Mark Johnston bumped into a well-handicapped improver in the shape of Oleg at Pontefract, the winner coming from an impossible position to nail him on the post. I watched this race at the time and the first two finished four lengths clear and the form looks very solid. He has had 4 lengths win and a neck second in two runs at Newcastle so clearly handles the track. Unibet 16/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)

7.15 Curragh – Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f

Fiscal Rules for Jim Bolger was a staying-on fifth in the Irish 2000 but this step up in trip is going to make a difference – his half-sister Cimeara needs 1 mile four furlongs as a minimum, and the dam was a 12f horse. The fact he was thrown into the 2000 after just one run in a maiden shows trainer clearly thinks plenty of him. Expect a big step forward here. Unibet 13/2 each way

Racing recommenced behind closed doors in France on Monday for the first time since March, with a stellar card, attracting interest not only in France but internationally too. There were four Group races and lots of surprises, with plenty of rain overnight, leaving the ground very soft.
The Wine Tipster kicked off in style in his Unibet Racing blog with his nap Batwan obliging at 10/1 in the Prix De Saint-Georges Group 3. Way To Paris at 28/1, looked overpriced in the Prix d’Harcourt, given he had finished second to Arc winner Waldgeist last September and was going to thrive in the ground. He finished second to reward each way backers in style in his Unibet Racing blog.
Thursday’s card at Longchamp has two Group races and three Listed contests on a ten-race card, with plenty of quality on show this meeting has been overlooked. Unlike Monday’s meeting, conditions, whilst soft, look likely to provide results nearer to the top of the market, hence my selections.
Have a good day.
Cheers!

10.40 Longchamp Prix La Force (Group 3) 1m 1f
Both Pao Alto and Ocean Atlantique have the potential to do much better as 3yos, but the former isn’t proven on the forecast very soft ground and the latter’s yard (Andre Fabre) have been slow to start the season. That comment applies to Freddie Head as well, so his once-raced winner Another Sky may be best watched too. With no stamina or ground doubts about MKFANCY, take him to make all in this small field.
Unibet 5/2 win

11.10 Longchamp Prix Vanteaux (Group 3) 1m 1f
Emoji is unbeaten in two starts and could be a tough nut to crack if fit, and the fact she has had a run before the lockdown started can only help in that regard. However, FLIGHTY LADY’s third in last year’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac is form right out of the top drawer and given her pedigree she can only improve for this extra furlong. Proven on ground with plenty of cut too, she can come out on top.
Unibet 6/4 win

11.40 Longchamp Prix Zarkava (Listed) 1m 2½f
This looks quite open. Wonderment never really went on from his Group 1 win at Saint-Cloud in 2018 but would be a big threat if returning to that sort of form, but he may want better ground regardless. Queen did nothing but improve throughout last year and her close second to Fanny Logan at Newmarket on her final start reads well enough, but the trip here is a concern. Grand Glory’s third in the G1 Prix De Diane is the best bit of form on show but preference is for BOLLEVILLE, who relishes soft ground, is a proven stayer and rounded off last year with a 4½l thrashing of Dariyma (reopposes here) at Saint-Cloud.
Unibet 9/2 each way

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

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