Back to back Grade One winner Politologue will be aimed at the Clarence House Chase at Ascot next month, with the likeable grey looking to make it a hat-trick of black type wins.
It was thought that the nine year old would never be able to get back to his best Grade One winning form last year having raced twice before the festival, finishing second of four on debut in the Shloer Chase and then fifth of eight in the Tingle Creek, where again he finished behind Defi Du Seuil.
However, his win in the Champion Chase saw him back to his best and although the big hitters like Altior and Chacun Pour Soi were pulled out of the event which took the shine off the race, the grey was still the best horse on the day and under a superb ride from the front jumped the field into submission
His handler Paul Nicholls believed that his win in that race was not a fluke and with another great preparation he showed just how good he is when landing the Grad One Tingle Creek Chase for the second time in his career, on his seasonal debut.
Second last year, not for catching this time!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 11, 2020
Politologue lands the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on his fifth Festival visit, leading home a 1-2 for @PFNicholls 👏 #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/KWMw1PHtkG
Looked for three Grade One wins in a row Nicholls is now sending the John Hales owned gelding to Ascot in January for the Clarence House Chase and although he will be turning 10 very soon, Nicholls believes he is in the best form of his career.
(Credit ATR) “I still think Politologue is the one they have all got to beat in the Queen Mother. He is in the form of his life and the plan now is to head to the Clarence House at Ascot,” said Nicholls.
“Last year, after the Tingle Creek he was sick for a month afterwards and we had to do what we did to get him right.
“You wouldn’t know he had a race last week. He was bouncing. We will just tick him over now and tune him up for Ascot now we know what we are doing with him.”