Europe cut as Rainbow is ruled out
Henry de Bromhead’s raider is the 11-8 market leader with Paddy Power for the two-mile Grade One event while William Hill make him their 13-8 favourite.
His position at the head of the market has been strengthened after Nicky Henderson confirmed Finian’s Rainbow would miss the race.
The eight-year-old finished second in the Arkle last term before going on to win the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree and this would have been his first start in full company.
However, Henderson confirmed: “I worked him this morning and he’s not going to run at the weekend.
“He’s just not quite ready, and we might wait for the Desert Orchid at Kempton.”
Paddy Power are planning to refund all ante-post bets on Finian’s Rainbow, while Tataniano is now the main challenger to Sizing Europe in the market and Betfred are anticipating support for Paul Nicholls’ runner.
“Finian’s Rainbow’s absence from the Tingle Creek should make things easier for Sizing Europe but anything Paul Nicholls runs in this race has to be respected and there will surely be plenty of support for Tataniano in the run-up to the weekend,” said Betfred spokesman George Primarolo.
The firm make Tataniano the 11-4 second favourite while Wishfull Thinking has been cut to 4-1 from 6-1.
The latter will be dropping back in trip but trainer Philip Hobbs is confident he will not be disadvantaged by the switch.
The eight-year-old has been campaigned exclusively at around two and a half miles, both over hurdles and fences, and was sixth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his latest start.
“He has always shown loads of pace,” the Minehead trainer told At The Races.
“It’s a bit of an experiment, really. Before Cheltenham last year we were even thinking of going three miles.
“Sometimes the better these horses are, the more adaptable they are in trip. It’s trying to find out which is his best trip.
“He won’t be done for pace in the Tingle Creek. He’s very quick.
“He obviously stays two and a half, sometimes that’s a plus.”
David Pipe’s two Tingle Creek entries, Dan Breen and I’msingingtheblues, are both likely to be outsiders should they take their chance.
“They’re in the Tingle Creek. Obviously they have to improve a lot on form, even though they are very good horses,” said the Nicholashayne trainer.
“It will be a small field, but they are not definite runners yet.
“We’ve got to talk it through with their owners, but it’s dry ground there.
“Both will like the ground and there’s a lot of prize-money on offer.”
Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase betting:
Paddy Power: 11-8 Sizing Europe, 3-1 Tataniano, 7-2 Wishfull Thinking, 9-1 Gauvain, 10-1 Kauto Stone, 14-1 I’msingingtheblues, 20-1 Cornas, 25-1 Dan Breen, 50-1 Fix The Rib, 500-1 Kinkeel.
William Hill: 13-8 Sizing Europe, 5-2 Tataniano, 7-2 Wishfull Thinking, 7-1 Kauto Stone, 9-1 Gauvain, 16-1 I’msingingtheblues, 20-1 Cornas, 33-1 Dan Breen, 66-1 Fix The Rib, 500-1 Kinkeel.
Coral: 6-4 Sizing Europe, 5-2 Tataniano, 3-1 Wishfull Thinking, 8-1 Gauvain, 12-1 Cornas, 14-1 I’msingingtheblues, 25-1 Dan Breen, 50-1 Fix The Rib, 500-1 Kinkeel.
Betfred: 13-8 Sizing Europe, 11-4 Tataniano, 4-1 Wishfull Thinking, 11-2 Kauto Stone, 9-1 Gauvain, 12-1 I’msingingtheblues, 16-1 Cornas, 25-1 Dan Breen, 33-1 Fix The Rib, 500-1 Kinkeel.
