BIG TINGLE TREAT
PREVIOUS winners Un De Sceaux and Politologue will appear alongside Defi Du Seuil among eight entries for Saturday’s Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.
Politologue, successful in 2017, has already come up against Defi Du Seuil once this season in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.
On that occasion Philip Hobbs’ younger rival quickened up smartly to win, but this time around Paul Nicholls’ grey will be 3lb better off and the champion trainer is hoping that will be enough - with the aid of a run under his belt - to enable him to turn the tables.
“A faster run race would have suited us last time, but there were no excuses as it was our first run of the season,” said Nicholls.
“He was beaten by a very good horse, but it will be interesting to see what happens on Saturday.
“We are hoping Un De Sceaux might come over and go a very good gallop. Politologue is all ready to go though.”
Nicholls has also Dolos.
Un De Sceaux may be rising 12, but trainer Willie Mullins reports him to be showing all his entered old exuberance on the gallops as he prepares for his third run in the race, having won in 2016 and finished second to Altior 12 months ago.
Also in the field are Nicky Henderson’s Janika who made a stylish winning return to action in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, Alan King’s Sceau Royal, who ran such a good race in the Champion Chase last season, Waiting Patiently for Ruth Jefferson and Henry de Bromhead’s Ornua from Ireland.