Weather holds key to Blue`s Creek bid

Sandown Park stages one of the highlights of its jumping season next weekend and all eyes will be on the weather in the build-up to the Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday.

Henrietta Knight is tempted to run Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Edredon Bleu in the two-mile event but he is almost certain not to be risked if the ground at the Esher track comes up soft.

Miss Knight`s nine-year-old is perhaps the most popular chaser in training and his bold jumping and willingness to give his all has ensured he has a place in the public`s hearts similar to that of Desert Orchid.

He completed his fourth successive success in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon with the minimum of fuss on his last start and the reaction of connections was to put him away for the Festival at Cheltenham in March.

But a dearth of outstanding two-mile chasers and the fact that `Blue` has only had the one run this term has led to a possible change of plan.

'That was the immediate reaction,' Miss Knight said. 'But there is just a chance that if it stayed dry and the race cut up a bit that he could go for the Tingle Creek.

'He`s only had one race this year. Normally he`s had two - in the old days he used to go to Exeter first.

'I think he`s as good as ever. He`s a wonderful horse and always raises everybody`s spirits - he`s got a good following now. He`s like a pony to look at, not very big.'

Edredon Bleu has twice been beaten in the #80,000 contest, finishing second behind Direct Route in 1998 before occupying third spot as Flagship Uberalles triumphed the following year.

But there is little doubt that with the ground in his favour he would take a great deal of beating this time.

Flagship Uberalles went on to success in the 2000 renewal as well, which was run at Cheltenham following the abandonment of the Sandown card.

Still only a seven-year-old, he will be seeking his third success in the race and each will have been achieved under a different trainer if he manages to do it.

Paul Nicholls and Noel Chance were the men in charge for the first two victories but he is now in the care of Philip Hobbs.

He has not been seen since finishing fourth behind Edredon Bleu in the ladbrokescasino.com Championship Chase over the Tingle Creek course and distance in April.

That contest was the replacement for the Champion Chase after the Festival had fallen victim to the foot and mouth outbreak which wreaked havoc with much of the National Hunt season last term.

Very smart at his best, his new trainer reports him on track for the Sandown feature but, that win apart, he has lost his way somewhat in recent times and has had his problems.

A young up-and-coming recruit to the two-mile chasing ranks is Brian Ellison`s Latalomne _ although he may bypass the Tingle Creek in favour of a crack at Wetherby`s Castleford Chase at Christmas.

An unbeaten son of Zilzal, who was bred more to win a Derby than top National Hunt events, he was reallyimpressive when hacking up in a handicap at Cheltenham on his last start.

He can be ridden from the front or lay up behind a strong pace and is still open to lots more improvement.

Ellison made no secret of the regard he holds his horse in after that success, saying: 'He`s a machine of a horse and he`ll improve for that.

'His next race will be the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day andthen we will give him one more outing before coming back here for the Festival in March.'

But, should his trainer have a change of heart this week, he will rate a big danger to all.

Geos, who finished second to Edredon Bleu when in receipt of 10lbs on his British chasing debut for trainer Nicky Henderson, is also among the entries.

But the Seven Barrows handler is tempted to send Geos back over hurdles and admits he cannot see his horse ever beating Edredon Bleu - he feels he has more chance of winning the Champion Hurdle than Champion Chase come next March.

So if Edredon Bleu and Latalomne are absent the solid option for punters looks to be the Paul Nicholls-trained Fadalko.

He was just touched off behind Edredon Bleu in that race in April but finished well in front of Flagship Uberalles.

His seasonal return saw him flop behind the Knight-trained Best Mate in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter but he has solid claims if that run is forgotten.

He was a really good winner of the Melling Chase at Aintree prior to that effort at Sandown and soft ground will be in his favour.

Nicholls could also saddle Desert Mountain, who was third Edredon Bleu and Fadalko at Sandown, but in front of his stablemate at Exeter.

That Sandown effort was a career-best and he cannot be written off.

Of the Irish challengers, Michael O`Brien`s Knife Edge put a disappointing effort at Down Royal behind him when bouncing back to winning ways at Naas.

He may still be capable of good things this season and is another who will not be hindered by plenty of give underfoot. He

would be very interesting if his trainer sends him over.

Whatever the outcome, Andrew Cooper, director of racing at Sandown, is certainly happy with the quality of the entries for Saturday`s race.

He said: 'I very much hope that, as intended, Flagship Uberalles goes for his hat trick of victories in the race.

'But it does look a competitive entry with the other top domestic horses like Edredon Bleu and Fadalko both entered, as well as a solid Irish entry of Micko`s Dream, Knife Edge and Native Upmanship.'