No Altior, no problem: punters back Greaneteen for Tingle Creek glory at Sandown

Greaneteen is fancied to continue his progressive path to the top-level by taking the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, as he closes in on stablemate Politologue at the top of the betting in today's Grade 1 showpiece.

The market has shifted following news that two-mile chasing ace Altior would not turn up, leaving the reigning Champion Chase hero at the top of the betting.

But support throughout the morning has been for Greaneteen, with last month's Haldon Gold Cup winner now a general 15-8 chance (from 9-4). His stablemate, meanwhile, is as big as 7-4 with some firms (from 5-4).

The six-year-old has 11lb to find on ratings but has been successful on four of his five starts over fences and is versatile regarding ground. The five-runner Grade 1 affair also features Rouge Vif, Castlegrace Paddy and Brewin'upastorm.

Conditions at Sandown are soft, good to soft in places on the chase course and heavy, soft in places on the hurdles course with further rain forecast throughout the day.

The other Grade 1 event on the card at Sandown is the Planteur At Chapel Stud Henry VIII Novices' Chase (1.50), but the field has been reduced to five with Tamaroc Du Mathan taken out.

While Nicholls now only has one runner in the race, his representative Hitman is jostling for favouritism this morning with Allmankind. A wide-margin winner at Ffos Last time, Hitman has been trimmed to 9-4 (from 5-2).

Allmankind: stable star for Dan SkeltonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Another key runner was taken out due to the going at Aintree, with Grand Sefton contender Huntsman Son out of the race (3.15).

The Alex Hales-trained runner was a general 15-2 second favourite for the finale and was taken out with the ground changed to soft, heavy in places on the National course.

The ground is described as soft on the Mildmay courses, which hosts the day's featuring William Hill Many Clouds Chase (2.40). Gold Cup runner-up is a 6-4 favourite with last year's hero Native River clipped to 2-1 (from 9-4) this morning.

Saturday's key meetings

Sandown(first race: 12.05)
Going: soft, good to soft in places (chase course); heavy, soft in places (hurdle)

Non-runners
1.15: Cogital, Perfect City, French Kiss
1.50: Tamaroc Du Mathan
2.15: Altior

Aintree(11.45)
Going: soft (chase and hurdle course); soft, heavy in places (National)

Non-runners
12.20: Goa Lil
1.30: Give Me A Copper
2.05: Sarceaux
3.15: Huntsman Son

Saturday's previews:

Will the Grand National fences reignite the spark in mercurial Might Bite? (Members' Club subscribers)

Becher Chase: Minellacelebration fancied to tee up owner's Grand National dream

Class counts: how the Becher Chase is copying its older cousin (Members' Club subscribers)

'A proper race' – buckle up for a fast and furious Henry VIII Novices' Chase

'I know the Tizzards are very happy with him' – Native River returns in hot race

Can 'devastating' Cloudy Glen be tamed in his bid for another National of sorts?

Grand Sefton: betting insight and trainer quotes for Aintree's closing handicap

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