The Tingle Creek Chase runners for Saturday’s big Sandown Grade One contest sees the three main players stand their ground – in what looks an early Christmas ‘cracker’ this weekend. With five Tingle Creek runners now confirmed.
Five Tingle Creek Runners Headed By Il Etait Temps
Surprisingly, trainer Willie Mullins has only won the Tingle Creek Chase once – which came with Un de Sceaux in 2016.
However, if the Tingle Creek chase betting odds are anything to go by, Mullins could be doubling his tally this Saturday in the big ITV Racing contest.
He’s got the clear Sandown favourite with Il Etait Temps, who we last saw slamming Jonbon by 5 1/2 lengths here in the Celebration Chase back in April (watch below).
Aged just seven, Il Et Temps has time on his side to improve further and has returned this season with a facile win at Clonmel last month over 2m5f.
That win was also his fourth on the spin – having also beaten King George VI Chase favourite Gaelic Warrior at Punchestown in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase in May.
Plus also winning the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree back in April.
In short, this grey is a fast improving chaser that has now won six of his eight starts over fences.
We also know the track is fine and the likely soft ground is okay too.
Il Etait Temps will be hoping to take this and enhance his Queen Mother Champion Chase
He’s currently 7/1, but does have a bit to prove at Cheltenham, where he’s so far 0-3 at the Festival.
Il Etait Temps translates to “It Was About Time” – so maybe it is time we saw another Mullins Tingle Creek winner.
Can Jonbon Bounce Back To Form With Third Tingle Creek Chase Win?
Jonbon needs little introduction – having won the Tingle Creek Chase for the last two seasons and also banking over £1.4m in total prize money.
The Nicky Henderson-trained nine year-old is, however, on a bit of a recovery mission having lost three of his last four starts.
Including when last seen when being a well-beaten second to L’Eau du Sud at Cheltenham in the Shloer Chase.
But returning to Sandown is a big plus despite losing to Il Etait Temps the last time he was here in the Celebration Chase.
His overall form at the Esher track reads 1-1-1-1-1-2.
That last run would have brought him on too and with track stats like that it would be foolish to ignore Jonbon.
Trainer Nicky Henderson will be looking for his fifth win in the race – with his first coming only in 2012 with Sprinter Sacre.
If Jonbon can successfully defend his crown, he’ll be the first horse to win the Tingle Creek three years on the spin since Flagship Uberalles.
Flagship won the big Sandown race between 1999 and 2001 – remarkably for three different yards (Hobbs, Nicholls and Chance).
He’d also move closer to track legend status – just like the horse Tingle Creek, who the Sandown race is named after.
Tingle Creek was a course specialist at Sandown during his racing career in the 1970’s – breaking the track record here many times.
It’s also worth noting Jonbon still holds an entry for Sunday’s Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.
L’Eau du Sud Looks To Give Dan Skelton Another Big Saturday Winner
The Dan Skelton yard can do little wrong at the moment and are already well clear of the 2025/26 British Trainers Championship table.
He’s also becoming the ‘go-to’ Saturday trainer this season with Betfair Chase and Coral Gold Cup wins over the last few weekends.
And so he’ll be hoping for more big race Saturday success at Sandown with his Tingle Creek Chase runner L’Eau du Sud.
Like Il Etait Temps, he’s a seven year-old grey with loads more potential to come.
He also heads here off the back of his biggest career win, when running away with the Shloer Chase at the Cheltenham November Meeting (watch below).
L’Eau du Sud was also only beaten 1 1/2 lengths into fourth in the Arkle Novices’ Chase to Jango Baie last season and that form has since been franked this term.
Plus has winning form here at Sandown, when taking the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at this meeting last season.
Therefore, many feel this improving grey has more to come this season and a win (or a good run here) would surely see his 33/1 Champion Chase odds vanish without trace.
L’Eau du Sud means “Southern Water” which could be apt as Sandown is expected to see plenty of rain this week.
But this Skelton horse has handled cut underfoot in the past and won on ‘heavy’ and ‘very soft’ in France during his younger days.
Tingle Creek Chase Race Details 2025
📅Date: Saturday 6th December 2025
⌚Time: 3:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Sandown
🔄Trip: 1m 7 1/2f
💷Winning Purse: £99,663
📺 TV: ITV4 / Racing TV
You can also see Andy Newton’s 1-2-3 ITV Racing tips from Sandown and Aintree on Saturday – including the Tingle Creek Chase and Becher Chase.
Tingle Creek Betting Odds 2025
- Il Etait Temps 10/11
- L’Eau du Sud 11/4
- Jonbon 4/1
- Libberty Hunter 25/1
- Boothill 80/1
