IT’S a fascinating Betfair Tingle Creek Chase, Jonbon on a hat-trick quest.

It would be some achievement if he were to win three, it would put Nicky Henderson’s horse in an exclusive club.

There have been many memorable Tingle Creeks, there have been many memorable Tingle Creek winners, and there have been plenty of dual winners.

Long Engagement and Waterloo Boy and Sound Man and, of course, Moscow Flyer. Kauto Star won two as well (as well as two Gold Cups), as did Sire De Grugy and Master Minded. But only one horse, Flagship Uberalles, has won three.

Jonbon should improve for his run in the Shloer Chase. He has to, he was beaten by 15 lengths by L’Eau Du Sud.

But he should be better for that run, the Tingle Creek has always been his early-season target, more than the Shloer Chase, and the cheekpieces are an interesting addition. And it’s Sandown. He is five for six at Sandown. He could exact his revenge on L’Eau Du Sud.

The problem for Jonbon is that the only horse who has ever beaten him at Sandown is in opposition again. Il Etait Temps was racing for the first time in almost a year when he went to Sandown last April and won the Celebration Chase, over today’s course and distance. He beat Jonbon by five and a half lengths.

This race has been earmarked too by Willie Mullins as Il Etait Temps’ early-season target, and he warmed up for it nicely with a no-nonsense victory in the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase last month. He is favourite for today’s race, but it is correct that he is, and Jonbon should probably be second favourite behind him, in front of L’Eau Du Sud.

London National

O’Connell has a big chance in the Betfair Exchange London National at the end of the day and at the other end of the distance spectrum. He was good in winning over three miles at Sandown in February off a mark of 124.

He is higher in the handicap now, but he ran a big race to finish second in the Eider Chase at Newcastle three weeks later off today’s mark of 132, when the extreme distance probably stretched him.

He is back over an extended three and a half miles today, probably a more suitable trip, and he warmed up for this nicely with a good run at Carlisle five weeks ago, when he stayed on well up the hill to finish a close-up third behind Sound And Fury. But he is short enough now. He would be of interest if he drifted a little.

Go Dante may represent better value in the two-mile handicap hurdle earlier in the day, now that he is back at Sandown. Olly Murphy’s horse has run at Sandown twice, in the 2024 Imperial Cup and in the 2025 Imperial Cup, and he has won on both occasions.

He shapes as if he could get further than the minimum trip, he stayed on well to catch Afadil in the Imperial Cup last March on ground that was probably better than ideal for him.

But his best runs have been over two miles, he goes well on soft and heavy ground, and the ground today on the hurdles track, significantly slower than on the chase track, should place an emphasis on stamina at the trip, which will suit him well.

A 4lb hike for his latest Imperial Cup triumph took him up to a mark of 131, but he was dropped by 1lb after his seasonal return at Bangor, which he surely needed, and over a distance that probably stretched him. That should bring him forward nicely for today’s race, a race that connections may have had in mind for him for a little while, given his proven affinity with Sandown. He is nine now, he is not unexposed, but he has conditions in his favour, and two of the last eight winners of this race were nine. Also, his mark of 130 is 4lb lower than his peak.

Becher Chase

Gaboriot could be the answer to the William Hill Half A Mill Becher Chase at Aintree, now that he is stepping back up to three and a quarter miles.

Olive Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s horse ran a big race in the Grand Sefton Chase, over the Grand National fences, on his debut this season, when he stayed on well to take second place behind Colonel Harry.

He had finished third in the Grand Sefton last year too, when, again, he shaped as if he would appreciate a greater test of stamina over the fences. He jumped the fences well though on both occasions, and that obviously augurs well for today.

The handicapper raised him by just 2lb for his last run, to a mark of 126, and that was fair.

That is still 2lb lower than the mark off which he finished third in a three-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Haydock last December. He goes well on soft ground, and Robbie Dunne, who got a good tune out of him last time when he rode him for the first time in a race in the Grand Sefton, is back on board.

Go Dante, 2.25 Sandown, 7/1 (generally), 1 point win

Gaboriot, 2.40 Aintree, 13/2 (generally), 1 point win