Paul Nicholls: Afadil has a definite chance on Betfair Tingle Creek card at Sandown

• Paul Nicholls previews his nine Saturday's runners

• Afadil in action on Betfair-sponsored Sandown card

• Five runners for Team Ditcheat at Chepstow and one at Aintree

• Hitman takes aim at Huntingdon on Sunday

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Racing... Only Bettor. Listen to Betfair Tingle Creek day preview now.

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Paul Nicholls on his Betfair Tingle Creek wins

I've won the Betfair Tingle Creek 12 times with horses like Flagship Uberalles, Kauto Star, Master Minded, Dodging Bullets and Politologue, to name a few, but I suppose my best memory is Katuo Star winning it twice before going on to win a King George. 

Some great horses have won the race, and Politologue winning it for John Hales was another great memory. The Betfair Tingle Creek has been a fantastic race, it's just a shame not to have a runner in it this year, but we'll have one another year as it's a fantastic race. 

The race comes early in the season so it's a great starting point for all the good two mile chasers. All the Champion Chase winners I've had, and all my good winners at Ascot in the spring have won a Tingle Creek. It has good prize money so you want to win it but it also points you in the right direction for the remainder of the season. 

If I had the chance to train any of the runners in this year's race it would be Willie Mullins' horse (Il Etait Temps), without a shadow of a doubt. I saw him win at Sandown in the spring and I thought to myself, there's your Tingle Creek winner next season, so I think Willie' horse will be hard to beat.

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Paul Nicholls' Saturday runners at Sandown preview

12:43 - Just A Rose

I think she's nicely handicapped off a mark of 122, but if we get any more rain on Friday night - it's already good to soft, heavy in places - she'll be a very unlikely runner.

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13:20 - Absolutely Doyen

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14:25 - Afadil

He ran well in the Imperial Cup last year, that was on soft ground, and if he's back to form off his mark of 120 he's got a chance, definitely. I would rate him among my best chances of the day. 

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Paul Nicholls' Saturday runner at Aintree preview

14:05 - Treasure Planet

He's a progressive young horse, he won well the last day at Ludlow, he won it nicely although I don't think it was much of a race. He's progressing, but soft ground is a bit of an unknown but hopefully he'll go very well.

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Paul Nicholls' Saturday runners at Chepstow preview

13:04 - Jena D'Oudairies

She probably just needed the run at Wincanton last time, she had a wind op so she's a little bit behind, but yes, she was disappointing at Wincanton. 

Again, she's one of a number of mine on Saturday that wouldn't want too much rain, if the ground got testing she won't run. If the ground stays good to soft, as it is now, she'll run and I'd like to think off a lightweight, Ben Bromley taking 5lb off, she'll run much better.

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13:36 - Makinyourmindup

Jay Tidball takes 5lbs off so that helps him but he's been off for a long time, he got a little jarred up after he ran well at Plumpton last time. I'd say this is a bit of a prep race for the Welsh National so he will need the run. 

At the moment, the plan is to go to the Welsh National with Makin'yourmindup but as I say he will need this run, but as for Stay Away Fay I just want to see him show us a bit of sparkle.

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13:36 - Stay Away Fay

He's got to carry top weight in this Welsh Grand National trial but he showed us nothing in all his runs last season so this is a bit of a retrieval mission. I'd love to see him show us something here. 

He's been working nicely, he's had an away day and he's schooled well, so I'd like to see a good solid run from him

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14:11 - Ivaldi

He was pulled up last time at Newbury but he's now 4lbs lower. He's had a few little issues and came in late, so whatever he does here he'll improve for the run.

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14:46 - Grand Vendetta

He's a half brother to a very good mare I had called Sabrina. We've always liked him but he's big and backward. He'll run well, but he'll come on for the experience.

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Paul Nicholls' Sunday runner at Huntingdon

15:00 - Hitman

It looks a hot race as you would expect the Peterborough Chase to be, with the likes of Djelo and Willie's horse, Saint Sam, coming over from Ireland.

He's good and well and won very nicely last time so the owners have asked for Freddie Gingell to stay on him just because he went so well under him the last day.

He'll always run well in these sort of races, it's a bit tougher than the Old Roan as that was a handicap but hopefully he'll run well.

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Now read Alan Dudman's antepost tips for this weekend's racing

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