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

Betting on the Champion Hurdle was thrown up in the air by the weekend's action. This coming weekend it may be the turn of the Queen Mother Champion Chase to experience market turmoil, as the fastest two-milers return to tracks on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Saturday brings the Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown, a track that allows them to wing around at speed, which will be especially true with the ground likely to be drier than usual. Jonbon seeks to win it for the third time, a feat previously achieved only by Flagship Uberalles, but Nicky Henderson's runner was so disappointing at Cheltenham last time that he's only third in the betting.

Il Etait Temps put up a career-best effort over the course and distance in April, so he could become the first Irish-trained winner for nine years. L'Eau Du Sud will try to prove his Shloer defeat of Jonbon was no flash in the pan.

The supporting card at Sandown includes the novice version of the Tingle Creek, the Henry VIII Chase, won by Jonbon and L'Eau Du Sud in their early days over fences, as well as Altior and Desert Orchid in years gone by.

Majborough: expected to return in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann

Sunday's Hilly Way at Cork may be more influential than the Tingle Creek in terms of shaping the Champion Chase market, as it is expected to feature the return of Majborough, 4-1 co-favourite for the festival race with some firms. Beaten only by a couple of late jumping errors in the Arkle, Majborough will try to maintain Willie Mullins' amazing record in the Hilly Way, which the champion trainer has won 11 times in 12 years.

Look out also for Banbridge, who unseated at the final fence in last year's Hilly Way on his way to Christmas glory in the King George. Joseph O'Brien's star may follow the same route from Cork to Kempton.

Mr Vango Aintree-bound

Those famous green fences will be back on our screens on Saturday when Aintree stages the Becher Chase, a 3m2f handicap which will be the final race over the Grand National course until the great meeting rolls around in April.

Mr Vango went unbeaten through last season, starting with the London National on the Tingle Creek card, and now gets his first look at Aintree. The National is thought to be the main target for Sara Bradstock's flagbearer.

Mr Vango: Midlands National winner is entered in the Becher ChaseCredit: John Grossick Racing

As was the case in the Coral Gold Cup, we may get a full field for this feature handicap chase, with 35 still in at the time of writing. Chambard, the Becher winner two years ago, could go again, while Colonel Harry, Bill Baxter and King Turgeon are other entries with winning form round this unique circuit.

Don't miss Sandown novices

Friday's card at Sandown is one for the true fan of jump racing who likes to see future stars working on their skills. There are Grade 2 contests for novice hurdlers (the Winter) and novice chasers (the Esher), both sponsored by Betfair. 

No Drama This End, second-favourite for a Cheltenham Festival novice hurdle, is entered in the Winter, though the expectation is that he'll go to Newbury's Challow Hurdle instead. That could leave Kripticjim, Absolutely Doyen and Tormund Giantsbane as the most promising youngsters bound for Esher on Friday. 

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Absolutely Doyen as well as No Drama This End, has gone to the Winter with some of his best horses, including past winners See More Business and Neptune Collonges.

O'Neills raring to go

It's a significant week for the training team of Jonjo and AJ O'Neill, who stopped having runners three weeks ago, with concerns over the health of their string at Jackdaws Castle, near Cheltenham. "A bit of a cold" was the diagnosis, but their team is ready to go again now, starting on Tuesday with Sugar Road in a maiden hurdle at Southwell.

AJ (left) and Jonjo O'Neill: set to resume saddling runners after quiet spell

In the circumstances, the joint-trainers could do with an encouraging performance from the four-year-old. They may have other runners at Ludlow on Wednesday and Exeter on Friday.

Awards season is here

It's awards season, so good luck to nominees everywhere. The good times start on Monday at the Horserace Writers & Photographers Awards, where the Racing Post's nominees include all four possible winners of the Alastair Down Trophy for racing writer of the year: David Jennings, Lee Mottershead, Patrick Mullins and Peter Thomas.

On Thursday, it will be the turn of the Racehorse Owners Association to hand out some gongs. Japan Cup winner Calandagan could get a timely award as horse of the year, although he faces stiff competition from Ombudsman, Lossiemouth, Inothewayurthinkin and another recent winner in Golden Ace. What a race that would be . . .

Read more . . .

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

Barry Geraghty: 'Constitution Hill has developed indecision and it's a really difficult thing to un-train out of a horse' 

Nicky Henderson puts Constitution Hill's season on hold: 'He'll have a quiet week and we'll rethink the whole thing' 

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.