PROVIDED the weekend isn’t derailed by Storm Darragh, we’re set for two days of key clues in the two-mile chasing division.

Sandown’s Betfair Tingle Creek card faces a 7.30am precautionary inspection this morning in view of the forecast high winds and potentially heavy rain. Fingers crossed there are no complications. Especially when Sandown’s fixture also features the Grade 1 Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (1.50).

There is also Irish interest in the Tingle Creek (3.00). Henry de Bromhead has proven time and time again an ability to excel with two-mile chasers, and his Cheveley Park-owned Quilixios enters the weekend as second favourite for this after an impressive comeback win at Naas. Somehow 13 years have flown by since Sizing Europe won this for Knockeen.

Meanwhile, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Solness looks more of a possible each-way candidate as he bids to go one better than his near miss in the Fortria Chase three weeks ago.

Jonbon is the real heavyweight of the two-mile division in Britain, though, and he brings real star quality to the eight-runner field. According to Racing Post Ratings, Sandown has been the scene of three of his best four performances (reaching 170+) - he is a perfect four out of four at the Esher track.

Speaking ahead of Jonbon’s bid to become the first back-to-back winner of the Tingle Creek since Kauto Star in 2005 and 2006, Nicky Henderson said: “He does seem to like Sandown and the track seems to suit him well. He seems to get into a good rhythm, which some horses don’t find as easy as he possibly does. It’s a real test as those fences come up in all shapes and sizes and sometimes very quickly.”

Rich company

Henderson has trained a host of top two-milers in his career, including top names such as Remittance Man, Altior and Sprinter Sacre. It is high praise indeed that he feels Jonbon - seeking his eighth Grade 1 win this weekend - is entitled to be in the same conversation as those A-listers.

As it stands, the J.P. McManus-owned performer is 3/1 favourite for the Champion Chase with some firms, closely matched in the market with Gaelic Warrior.

“I think you have to give him pretty high star status as he certainly compares with all the others,” said the master of Seven Barrows. “They have all been completely different. Sprinter was unique as he was just a big, beautiful, mighty horse and Altior was great. He matches up with all the other lads. He is a solid person and a great character.”

It’s also tremendous to have dual Champion Chase winner Energumene back from a 593-day absence in tomorrow’s Grade 2 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase (2.15) at Cork.

Given he soon turns 11, it’s difficult to know just how much ability he retains, especially after an untimely setback that ruled him out of last season. However, if conditions turned up testing at Cheltenham in March and he retains his old sparkle, few will handle it better than Tony Bloom’s six-time Grade 1 winner.

Speaking of time on the sidelines, connections of Ferny Hollow must be relishing the chance to see him back in action for only the second time since Christmas 2021. In fact, the injury-prone star has run just four times since winning the 2020 Champion Bumper on March 11th, 2020.

That was the same day as Covid-19 was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, which gives you some indication of the level of patience the Mullins team have had to exercise with him. Surely no one would begrudge the nine-year-old a feature race success this season.