16:08 That's it from Tingle Creek day. A good day for Mr McCoy. In all honesty it wasn't a classic Tingle Creek and Master Minded does seem to be a class above his rivals. However the 4/7 quote for the Queen Mother at Cheltenham is far too short this far ahead.
From a chilly Sandown Park good evening.
15:55 Everyone has heard of the Grand National, now we have another one to add to the list as we saw the inaugural running of the London National, over 3 miles 5 furlongs in the gathering gloom at Sandown.
The race saw yet another win for the irrepressible AP McCoy as he drove Kilbeggan Blade home to win by ¾ length from L’aventure.
Bowleaze looked a likely winner after taking the lead from the long time leader Hello Bud, at the Pond fence.
However McCoy was tracking every move up front and in typical style launched a well timed run to take the lead in the final few hundred yards.
Top weight Eric’s Charm ran on well to take third place, with Bowleaze coming home in fourth place.
The driving finish bought home the very best of our sport.
The race also had a bitter taste as it also highlighted the dark side of the sport as well.
Blue Splash pulled up just before they started the final circuit, having injured his hind leg.
Unfortunately this happened right in front of the packed stands and the clearly distressed animal then collapsed right in front of racegoers. A very sad and distressing sight that shows the risks of the sport we follow.
15:17 For me one of the delights of racing is the sheer variety.
After the easy victory of Master Minded in our last, this one produced the most cracking finish of the afternoon.
A two mile hurdle, the pace was set by Spear Thistle, but he never had a huge lead and the field was always well bunched.
Turning for home you had a feeling a running on horse would take the race.
At the second last Spear Thistle and Hernando Royal jumped in unison. However there were two running on runners catching the eye, top weight Five Dream and the favourite Sunnyhillboy.
Spear Thistle jumped the last in front but Five Dream soon headed him. To his credit Spear Thistle did not give up. However on the near side Tony McCoy was pushing the favourite Sunnyhillboy.
It was a cracking finish with the three of them passing almost as one.
The favourite was given the verdict by a neck from Spear Thistle with Five Dream a further neck back in third.
14:48 The big race, the Seasons Holiday’s Tingle Creek Chase, certainly proved to be incident packed.
Seven went to post and there was a delay as the sun was looked at and they decided to omit the Pond fence.
There was drama at the first fence, one which the stewards had looked at in terms of the sun – but decided to leave in. The free running German raider Fiepes Shuffle fell ane in the process almost bought down both Master Minded and Tidal Bay.
Master Minded then put in his usual front running performance.
Down the back straight, when the fences come really quickly, Mahogany Blaze blundered badly at the first of the railway fences when in second place and Paddy Brennan did a fantastic job to keep the partnership in tact.
The next drama occurred at the second last (the first last time round) where last years winner Twist Magic fell when in second place, although it is questionable if he would have won.
Master Minded came home by ten lengths from Tidal Bay in second.
14:08 They talk about the Cheltenham roar but this afternoon the Sandown crowd can match it.
We have just witnessed a fantastic renewal of the Henry VIII and the finish was dramatic.
Free World, with AP McCoy on board was sent off the 4/5 favourite and looked to be winner, with the only possible challenger being Alan King’s Araldur, under Robert Thornton.
However Robert Thornton put in a performance that must be a contender for ride of the season. With a driving ride Thornton out McCoy’ed McCoy to take the race by a neck.
It was a joy to watch, even for someone who backed the second. Racing at its very best.
The remaining runners finished a distance behind the front pair.
13:39 A tricky 19 runner handicap hurdle for our second contest and it turned out to be quite a competitive contest.
Earth Crystal, with the McCoy effect, was sent off the 5/2 favourite but was never sighted.
Best turned out Tino Tino set the pace along with At The Money and Mandingo Chief, the latter resplendent in a bright blue pair of blinkers.
Interestingly none of the three front runners contested the finish as the places were all filled by running on types.
Mister Gloss came home the winner and it must have knocked out quite a few Scoop6 tickets. Winning from Talenti by 2½ lengths.
Regal Approach and King Jack filled the minor honours and the best of the front runners was At The Money who finished a tired looking fifth.
12:59 A two mile novice hurdle to get us underway and it proved to be a victory for AP McCoy riding for his retainer JP McManus.
It was one of those races when nobody was keen to start and it was left to the appropriately named, Irish bred, Murphy to set the pace.
A position he retained until approaching three out.
Quiver Hill and the eventual winner Clay Hollister, tracked the early leader, a respectful few lengths behind.
Turning for home Clay Hollister came to take up the running and the favourite extended his lead the further they ran.
Quiver Hill held on for the runners-up spot with the running on Blazing Desert taking third.
11:50 An hour to the start of our first race and we already have a decent size crowd here. There is a good festive feel, if you like that sort of thing. Carol singers, free mince pies - even an ice rink.
11:09 Good morning from Sandown Park on Tingle Creek day. The weather is nice and sunny and the going is Good to soft, soft in places on the chase course and soft, good to soft in places on the hurdle course.
We currently have no non-runners.
A bumper crowd is expected for one of Sandown Park's highlights of the year.
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Non-Runners
no non-runners
Results
12:50
1st 4 Clay Hollister 9/4 fav
2nd 12 Quiver Hill 9/2
3rd 1 Blazing Desert 12/1
14 Ran
Distances 13 & 1
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.20
Place £1.50 £2.10 £4.40
Exacta £11.20
CSF £10.98
Time 4' 08.3"
1:25
1st 7 Mister Gloss 12/1
2nd 14 Talenti 18/1
3rd 15 Regal Approach 16/1
4th 8 King Jack 14/1
19 Ran
Distances 2 1/2 , 4 & 1 1/4
Fav 9 Earth Crystal 5/2 (Upl)
Tote
Win £14.30
Place £3.60 £4.10 £3.90 £2.60
Exacta £324.70
CSF £184.95
Time 5' 27.1"
2:00
1st 4 Araldur 11/4
2nd 5 Free World 4/5 fav
5 Ran
Distances neck
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.50
Place £1.90 £1.20
Exacta £5.20
CSF £5.62
Time
2:35
1st 4 Master Minded 4/7 fav
2nd 6 Tidal Bay 11/4
7 Ran
Distances 10L
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.70
Place £1.40 £1.60
Exacta £2.60
CSF £2.50
Time 3' 57.0"
3:05
1st 6 Sunnyhillboy 9/2 fav
2nd 10 Spear Thistle 10/1
3rd 1 Five Dream 16/1
12 Ran
Distances neck & neck
Fav winner
Tote
Win £4.50
Place £1.90 £3.80 £6.10
Exacta £51.80
CSF £51.70
Tricast £681.86
Time 4' 07.2"
3:35
1st 3 Kilbeggan Blade 6/1
2nd 15 L'aventure 16/1
3rd 1 Eric's Charm 20/1
4th 9 Bowleaze 20/1
16 Ran
Distances 3/4 , 1/2 & 1
Fav 5 Nine De Sivola 4/1 (Upl)
Tote
Win £6.20
Place £2.30 £3.20 £4.90 £4.70
Exacta £181.00
CSF £95.01
Tricast £1,856.95
Time 7' 41.3"
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