Il Etait Temps, Jonbon and L'Eau Du Sud among Tingle Creek confirmations - but Henderson star given alternative weekend entry

Il Etait Temps, Jonbon and L'Eau Du Sud are on course for a seismic clash in Saturday's Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek (3.00) at Sandown after featuring among six confirmations.

Jonbon will be bidding for a third-straight win in the Tingle Creek but will have to bounce back from a heavy defeat to L'Eau Du Sud on his seasonal comeback in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham's November meeting, while Il Etait Temps was five and a half lengths too strong when the pair met in last season's Celebration Chase over Saturday's course and distance in April.

The sponsor's sportsbook make Il Etait Temps, who returned to action this season with a bloodless success in the Clonmel Oil Chase, the 4-7 favourite for the Tingle Creek, with L'Eau Du Sud next best at 11-4 and Jonbon a 3-1 chance. Boothill, Libberty Hunter and Edwardstone complete the potential line-up after Gidleigh Park, Solness and Only By Night were not confirmed on Monday.

Jonbon's stablemate Lulamba is one of six entries for the Grade 1 Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase (1.50) on the same card, which also features Sam Thomas-trained stablemates Lump Sum and Steel Ally.

Lulamba: one of six entries for the Henry VIII Novices' ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Alnilam, Be Aware and Sixmilebridge complete the potential line-up, with the chase course at Sandown described as good, good to soft in places on Monday but there is potential for rain later in the week.

Asked if a wet outlook would be a concern for either Jonbon or Lulamba, trainer Nicky Henderson, who confirmed both horses were "on schedule for Sandown", told Nick Luck's podcast: "With Jonbon it certainly is. I don't think that ground helped him at all at Cheltenham."

Jonbon also holds an entry in the Sky Bet Peterborough Chase (3.00) at Huntingdon on Sunday, a race which also includes Old Roan Chase winner Hitman and Charlie Hall hero Djelo, who took the Peterborough 12 months ago. 

• 'There's no point giving up' - retirement ruled out for Constitution Hill but stablemate could deputise in Christmas Hurdle 

Mr Vango heads the weights for the William Hill Half A Mill Becher Handicap Chase (2.40) at Aintree on Saturday after a possible field of 19 were confirmed for the race, including the Gordon Elliott-trained Favori De Champdou and Bioluminescence for Gavin Cromwell.

Betfair Tingle Creek Chase confirmations

Boothill Harry Fry
Edwardstone Alan King
Il Etait Temps Willie Mullins
Jonbon Nicky Henderson
L'Eau Du Sud Dan Skelton
Libberty Hunter Evan Williams

Betfair Sportsbook: 4-7 Il Etait Temps, 11-4 L'Eau Du Sud, 3 Jonbon, 20 Libberty Hunter, 25 Boothill, 33 Edwardstone.

Read these next:

Champion Chase contenders to the fore as top two-mile chasers clash this week on both sides of the Irish Sea

How the mighty have fallen - has any champion lost their love for jumping quite like Constitution Hill? 

Who were the big ante-post market movers following a dramatic weekend of racing? 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning