Will you be opposing odds-on Douvan in the Tingle Creek?
Published:
There’s still time for Willie Mullins to spring a surprise but the latest market moves suggest that stable star Douvan is primed for a Tingle Creek assault.
The upcoming Sandown assignment is one punters obviously believe the six-year-old will tackle with ease should he line-up on Saturday.
Having been as big as 5/1 last night, the price on Douvan for the Tingle Creek has collapsed into 4/7.
And it doesn’t take a genius to work out why he’s been so well-backed in the last few hours.
Having won 10 races from as many starts since joining the Mullins stable, including a clean-sweep of the previous season’s novice chases, the Rich Ricci-owned charge has proved unstoppable.
On the flip side, stablemate Un De Sceaux is now an 11/2 shot for victory with the price swap between Douvan and UDS appearing to suggest that it’s the former who’ll get the call-up for Sandown.
Mullins has refused to give many pointers either way with the money doing most of the talking.
That begs the question: if we’re to assume Douvan will make an appearance in Surrey, can anything beat him?
Probably not. Stunning record aside, French-bred horses have won eight of the last 10 renewals with horses aged between five and seven taking the same number of victories. That’s more boxes ticked.
Of course, the latter statistic does open it up to others.
Gary Moore’s course and distance winner Ar Mad could be the one who ultimately offers up the biggest challenge to Douvan for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
However, his trainer has insisted that last year’s Henry VIII Novices’ Chase winner needs a run with previous Tingle Creek hero Sire De Grugy preferred by the stable.
SDG rolled back the years to land a valuable handicap at Ascot on his seasonal reappearance and is the 9/2 third favourite to back that up with another memorable success.
Meanwhile, Tom George’s God’s Own is preparing to step back down in trip following two near misses at Ascot and Aintree respectively.
In-form Gordon Elliott has entered The Game Changer, Tingle Creek specialist Paul Nicholls saddles Vibrato Valtat and George is doubly represented with Sir Valentino.
Latest Ladbrokes Betting:
Tingle Creek Chase
Douvan – 4/7
Ar Mad – 4/1
Sire De Grugy – 9.2
Un De Sceaux – 11/2
God’s Own – 10/1
Vibrato Valtalt – 20/1
The Game Changer – 25/1
Sir Valentino – 33/1
Click here for the latest Tingle Creek odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
