Racing: Paul Nicholls has given Tataniano and Kauto Stone entries in the Sportingbet Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday as he seeks to continue his domination of the two-mile feature.
The Ditcheat trainer has won the last six renewals of the Esher showpiece, and eight times in all. Two of those wins were achieved by the great Kauto Star, whose half-brother Kauto Stone was a surprise name among the 11 entries.
The five-year-old French import made an impressive debut for the Nicholls team when winning the Ladbrokes.com Chase at Down Royal earlier this month, giving the trainer his 2,000th career success.
The Tingle Creek has been the plan for Tataniano after a successful reappearance at Chepstow in October.
The race has attracted one Irish-trained entry, Sizing Europe, the reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase hero. Henry de Bromhead's charge drops back in trip after finishing second to Quito De La Roque in the three-mile JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.
"The Tingle Creek is the plan at the moment. He seems in good form and we're going to give it a go," De Bromhead told At The Races. "It was obviously a tough race at Down Royal, but he seems in good form since so we're happy to let him take his chance.
"I'll say for the moment we will concentrate on two miles and two and a half, but I wouldn't rule out going back to three on better ground. We've just tried to freshen him up since Down Royal and keep him good and supple and agile."
Nicky Henderson has put in one of last season's top novices, Finian's Rainbow, while Wishfull Thinking is a possible from the Philip Hobbs stable.
David Pipe is double-handed with Dan Breen and I'msingingtheblues, while Nick Williams also has two entries in Cornas and Gauvain.
Gary Moore's Fix The Rib and Kinkeel, trained by Tony Carroll, complete the list.