'Ridiculous' conditions put Henderson and King on Tingle Creek ground watch

Nicky Henderson and Alan King have warned a dry forecast could jeopardise their plans to run star two-mile chasers Shishkin and Edwardstone in Saturday’s showpiece Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown (2.55).

Andrew Cooper, clerk of the course at the Esher track, on Monday began selective watering on the chase course in the latter half of the back straight to maintain good ground, describing conditions as good, good to soft in places and "a 50-50 split" between the two. The hurdle course is soft.

No rain is forecast this week at Sandown, where the first jumps meeting of the season this month was abandoned after three races due to waterlogging. Even so, the fluctuations in weather left Henderson bemoaning as "ridiculous" the way the ground had soaked up rain since a dry and hot summer.