Thursday’s racing round-up includes final declarations for the Becher Chase and Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday…
Eight have been declared for the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park on Saturday, including the Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon. Winner of the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham during the November meeting, Jonbon will be aiming to be the first horse since Kauto Star in 2006 to defend a Tingle Creek title. He faces Shloer second and third Boothill and Edwardstone, but also new rivals in the shape of JPR One and Quilixios.
Jockey Bryony Frost will switch France for Ireland as she heads to Navan on Saturday to ride Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's Intense Raffles over hurdles. Retained by the owners for all horses in France, Frost picked up the ride with regular jockeys Daryl Jacob and J J Slevin out due to injury. Intense Raffles is currently second-favourite for the Grand National at Aintree in April.
Grand Sefton winner King Turgeon is the current favourite for Saturday's Becher Chase over the famous Grand National fences at Aintree. The David Pipe-trained gelding will take on Kim Bailey's Chianti Classico, winner of the Ultima Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, who attempts the National course for the first time.
Sandown Park Racecourse have advised they will be monitoring conditions ahead of Saturday's Tingle Creek fixture, with high winds forecast. Whilst the Esher track is not due to receive a problematic amount of rainfall, the gusts are expected to reach up to fifty miles per hour. An inspection on Saturday morning is a plausible possibility.