It's the final afternoon at Sandown on Saturday and that of course brings with it the race which gives its name to the two-day Sandown meeting, the Tingle Creek Chase.
The famous Grade 1 is routinely one of the top chasing tests in Britain each season and classy horses such as Altior, Un De Sceaux, Sprinter Sacre and Master Minded have won it in recent times.
Adrian Wall provides his analysis on the big race as well as some other selections on day two at Sandown's big meeting, where they race from 11.35-3.35, with the Tingle Creek itself due off at 3.00.
3.00 – Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1, 1m7½f)
The big one! A small field of five will engage in battle for Sandown's famous steeplechase and they are to be headlined by Nicky Henderson's favourite Jonbon - the mount of Nico de Boinville.
Owned by JP McManus, the seven-year-old son of Walk In The Park has won 11 of his 13 career starts to date.
Both of his defeats were at Cheltenham, but he ended his Prestbury Park hoodoo when disposing of Edwardstone in the Shloer Chase at the November Meeting. He jumped impeccably on the day and it was possibly a career-best performance.
Constitution Hill and El Fabiolo are the only two horses to lower the colours of Jonbon to date and he is also unbeaten here at Sandown.
Sent off a well-backed favourite for the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase on this card 12 months ago, he had the reopposing Boothill eight lengths behind and he beat Captain Guinness here in the Celebration Chase to finish off his campaign.
Jonbon has never raced on heavy ground, so if there is one question mark that can be thrown at him then that is it.
This isn't the strongest of renewals and it's no surprise to see him as short in the betting as he is after his fantastic display last time out.
Of the dangers, at least on paper there doesn't seem to be any really.
Last year's Tingle Creek winner Edwardstone hasn't run near that level in a while, beaten 64-lengths in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March before looking very laboured behind Jonbon on his return to action in the Shloer Chase. He could come on a heap for the run, but he is going to have to.
Harry Fry's Boothill is certainly improving as a second-season chaser and is unbeaten in two starts this term. He carried 12-stone to victory when seeing off Frere D'Armes in an Ascot handicap last month, but he was no match for Jonbon when the pair met here last season, and even if he runs to his best it should still fall well short.
The interesting runner in the field is Haddex Des Obeaux, because he is making just his sixth chase start and we certainly haven't seen the bottom of him yet.
Trainer Gary Moore certainly knows what it takes to win this race having won it in 2013 and 2015 with Sire De Grugy, and this horse looked like one who could go right to the top when landing a Warwick handicap chase by 19-lengths in January.
He's also proven on heavy ground so testing conditions will be fine.
Nube Negra is also worthy of a strong mention. Dan Skelton's nine-year-old finished second in the Champion Chase in 2021, but he has a lot of ground to make up on Jonbon on his reappearance run in the Shloer Chase last month.
1.15 – Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m)
Earlier on the card, the rescheduled Fighting Fifth will take place and what a fascinating race it has turned out to be as stablemates Constitution Hill and Shishkin are set to clash.
The unbeaten Constitution Hill won this race on his seasonal reappearance last term before going on to win the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree Hurdle to round off his campaign.
Two of his career victories have come here at Sandown and it is hard to see anything beating him barring an accident.
If there is a horse who might give him a bit of a race, it could be Love Envoi, who will be in receipt of seven pounds from Henderson's stable star. This mare is also unbeaten around Sandown having won all three starts at the Esher track.
She proved bitterly disappointing when sent off a skinny enough price for a Grade 1 at Punchestown at the end of last season, but she had excuses on the day as she sustained an injury.
She stays much further than this and might find the trip on the sharp side, but the ground could make it a bigger test of stamina which will aid her cause.
1.50 – Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Grade 1, 1m7½f)
It's a massive day for Joe Tizzard as he sets out to try and win his first Grade 1 as a trainer with JPR One, who should be a solid favourite to take down the valuable £80,000 prize.
Jockey Brendan Powell is also aiming to ride his first Grade 1 winner, so there's certainly no pressure, eh?
JPR One was five lengths clear when unseating his rider at the final fence in the Arkle Trial at Cheltenham last month.
This is a brilliant opportunity to make amends but his jumping will have to improve as the fences at Sandown on sticky ground are no joke.
Paul Nicholls' Iceo is potentially the horse who could upset the big storyline of the race. Last season's Imperial Cup winner knows his way around here and he was seriously impressive on his chasing debut over 2m½f at Newton Abbot in October.
Bravemansgame got his chasing career started at Newton Abbot so that could be a tip in itself. It should be a cracker of a race.
