11 time champion trainer Paul Nicholls is still very happy with Politologue after his grey finished second to Defi Du Seuil at Cheltenham in the Grade Two Shloer Chase earlier on in the month.
The eight year old will head to Sandown next month to compete in the Tingle Creek where he is looking to land the contest for a second time after taking the Grade One back in 2017.
The John Hales owned gelding will need to be right at it to win the contest again going up against his nemesis trained by Philip Hobbs and will need to reverse the form of there latest outing at Cheltenham's November meeting.
(Credit At The Races) Nicholls is expecting his horse to come on a lot for that run and has said: “I was very pleased with Politologue at Cheltenham, he ran a really sound race. He had to make his own running and he will definitely be better in a stronger run race.
“Sandown suits him well, the softer the better, so I’m really looking forward to a rematch with Defi Du Seuil off level weights.
“I think he is very good over two miles, he ran very well at Cheltenham last time, he was second in the Champion Chase at the Festival last season. He is versatile, he could still win over two and a half miles, but for now we are going to stick to two miles.
“He has got to take on Defi Du Seuil, who beat him the other day, but he is 3lb better off. Un De Sceaux might run as well. I hope he does because he always makes it a good sound gallop.
“I think we are in really good shape, I think the horse is as well as he has ever been and Sandown will suit him very well.”