Tingle Creek Tips: JPR The One To Chase Home Jonbon
The Tingle Creek at Sandown is always one of the highlights of the first parts of the season, and this year the defending champion arrives in strong form to defend his crown. Jonbon takes on seven rivals and while the temptation is an each-way play with eight entered, Billy Grimshaw recommends a bet in the without the favourite market instead...
#AD 18+ New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply
First things first, I'm fairly sure Jonbon will win this barring a jumping mishap. A horse like him who was bought for such eyewatering money and was hyped to the stars considering he is a full brother to Douvan will always have his knockers when he doesn't eventually become the second coming, however this lad is criminally underrated. Just look at his record!
Over hurdles he was only beaten by a freakish performance in the Supreme by Constitution Hill. and since going over fences his record is (almost) flawless. He is a seven time Grade 1 winner and I can't see anything in here stopping him making it eight at Sandown, a course he has an exemplary record around. I'd argue some of his best performances have been here and indeed in this race, and his consistency merits more appreciation. He is not a Sprinter Sacre, but he's a bloody good racehorse and his constitution, particularly in this day and age with plenty of high profile horses often missing seasons or large chunks of seasons, means he will always be a favourite for real jumps fans who love seeing these gallant animals go back to the well time and time again.
On ratings he is clear and with so much in his favour I think the rest are playing for places, and while both Boothill and Edwardstone have filled that spot before many times behind the JP McManus star I am eyeing up an up and comer in the division to be Jonbon's chief rival: JPR ONE. He is one of a few younger horses taking their first real swing at the big boys in open company, along with second favourite Quilixios (who is a horse I'm keen on for the rest of his career but will oppose here due to the fact he likes to be prominent and will be ridden to win, which could see him fall away if Jonbon breaks his heart). Joe Tizzard's charge won the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last time out off top weight, which indicated he is ready for this step up to Grade 1 company and I love the way he attacks his fences.
#AD 18+ New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply
If you look at his bare form, you'll see he won first time out last season and lost second time out - however, that really only tells half the story. That day second time out he had jumped superbly around Cheltenham in the Arkle trial and was cruising to victory three lengths clear before a gutting fall saw his chance ebb away. That performance - until the fall of course - was in my opinion his best yet and if the Haldon Gold Cup has sharpened him up ready for this test, he will be a real threat to them all barring perhaps a peak form Sandown Jonbon.
The horse is the apple of Joe Tizzard's eye and while he was on the fence about taking on Jonbon here or heading to Kelso for a weaker race last weekend, I'm taking the fact he is in here and going for the big prize as a sign the horse is bouncing at home. He will need a career best to finish in front of Edwardstone, Boothill and Quilixios if they run to form, but I don't think that's out of the question.
Solness joins Quilixios as an Irish raider and is certainly not out of the reckoning in my estimations to hit the frame. I like Found A Fifty as a horse and Joseph O'Brien's charge pushed him all the way last time out, and is clearly still improving. He put in an assured round of jumping there too and if he repeats that here I think he'll really enjoy Sandown. Master Chewy is another of the youngsters who is of interest, with form behind the aforementioned Found A Fifty, however he was well behind JPR One last season at Lingfield and I'd expect our fancy to confirm that form line.
Whenever I back a horse in the without market, I nowadays always have to have a small play on them win only after being stung with Captain Guinness W/O El Fabiolo in the Champion Chase antepost - ouch! - so if you are wanting my full betting strategy for this race, there it is. For tipping purposes though, we will stick with backing JPR One W/O Jonbon at around the 6/1 mark.