Confirmed runners and riders for the Tingle Creek - plus a tip and free bet

Shishkin, Greaneteen and Edwardstone were on Thursday among the final field of six declared for the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (2.55) at Sandown on Saturday.

Shishkin, a four-time Grade 1 winner, has not been seen since disappointing when pulled up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March behind Energumene.

While trainer Nicky Henderson had voiced his concerns earlier in the week that dry conditions could see his star miss his comeback, Shishkin has been declared to run as he bids to restore his lofty reputation.

Impressive Arkle winner Edwardstone is another star chaser declared to return, but his trainer Alan King is likely to assess conditions on day one of Sandown's meeting on Friday.

Edwardstone: may make his comeback at the weekendCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Not seen since finishing second at Aintree in April, the eight-year-old has already missed his intended return twice last month in Cheltenham's Shloer Chase and a handicap chase at Ascot.

Last year's winner Greaneteen – a mighty winner of the Haldon Gold Cup on his reappearance – will bid to enhance his fine Sandown record, having won three of his five starts at the track.

The eight-year-old's three top-level successes have come at Sandown, including two wins in the Celebration Chase.

Gentleman De Mee, who beat Edwardstone in the Maghull Novices' Chase at the Grand National meeting, will be Willie Mullins' sole runner and heads a two-strong Irish team that includes Dunvegan.

The Venetia Williams-trained Funambule Sivola, who was runner-up in the Champion Chase, completes the star-studded field of six.

In the card's other Grade 1 contest, Arkle favourite Jonbon will face three rivals as he bids to continue his fine start to his career over fences in the Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices' Chase (1.45).

Last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up made a stunning chasing debut when a wide-margin winner at Warwick last month and will bid for his second top-level win.

He will face impressive Ascot handicap chase winner Boothill, Unexpected Party and Honneur D'Ajonc, while the Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral was not declared.

Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner Love Envoi will face nine rivals on her return in the 2m handicap hurdle (2.20), while a field of 11 has been declared for the London National (3.30).

The going at Sandown on Thursday morning was described as good, good to soft in places on the chase course and soft on the hurdles track.

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Tingle Creek confirmed runners and riders

Dunvegan Jonathan Burke
Edwardstone Tom Cannon
Funambule Sivola Charlie Deutsch
Gentleman De Mee Aidan Coleman
Greaneteen Harry Cobden
Shishkin Nico de Boinville

Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (2.55 Sandown, Saturday)

Betfair: Evens Shishkin, 9-4 Greaneteen, 5 Edwardstone, 8 Gentleman De Mee, 33 Funambule Sivola, 100 Dunvegan

Tingle Creek verdict and 1-2-3 prediction

1 Greaneteen
2 Gentleman De Mee
3 Shishkin

Greaneteen can land this for the second year in a row. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding easily saw off his stablemate Hitman in the 2021 running and proved that Sandown suits ideally with another Grade 1 success in April, beating Sceau Royal by 12 lengths. He looked better than ever when defying a big weight at Exeter recently and his proven fitness could be crucial here.
Stuart Redding

This content was first published in the Racing Post Weekender. Read more from Stuart and star Weekender contributors such as leading tipsters Tom Segal and Paul Kealy and exclusive columnist Alan King every week.

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