- Ask Steven
In search of a name
Steven LynchJanuary 2, 2015
I just watched Dodging Bullets win the Tingle Creek steeplechase at Sandown Park. But where is Tingle Creek? asked George Metcalfe
Despite sounding as if it's named after a location in Neighbours or Home and Away, the Tingle Creek Chase is actually commemorating a horse. The race was formerly known as the Sandown Pattern Chase, and was renamed in 1979 after Tingle Creek, who won it three times, setting a new course record on each occasion.
Tingle Creek, a popular chestnut, was a front-running chaser who won 23 of his 52 races in Britain and Ireland, and never fell. He was usually ridden by Don Cantillon, who is now a trainer. Tingle Creek ran in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham four times, but didn't seem to like the left-hand turns at Cheltenham; the best he managed was second behind Royal Relief in 1974.
Tingle Creek, who survived till 1996, when he was 30, was trained by Harry Thomson Jones - usually known as Tom - who also sent out a dozen winners at the Cheltenham Festival. Later in his career Jones concentrated on the Flat, and trained Athens Wood, the 1971 St Leger winner ridden by Lester Piggott; 11 years later Touching Wood, ridden by Paul Cook, won the Leger as well.
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