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POLITOLOGUE, a worthy player to give Paul Nicholls an incredible 10th success in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, is expected to make his seasonal return in next month’s Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot.
In the absence of recent stars in the Nicholls yard Politologue flew the flag for the 10 times champion trainer
Following his success in last season’s Haldon Cup at Exeter the popular grey finished the campaign on a winning note when landing the JLT Melling Chase at Aintree in April. Nicholls said: “Politologue will probably go to Ascot for the 1965 Chase.
“If all the good horses go to Haydock (Betfair Chase) there is no point going there first time out.
“I’m not saying he will stay three miles but John (Hales, the owner) would like to see him over it one day.
“Kempton (King George Chase) over three miles may be for him but three-and-a-quarter miles at Cheltenham is a different thing.”
Nicholls showed that he has his ()%+,–
LEICESTER (nb),
like many of Mark Johnston’s horses, has been kept on the go this season and this will be his ninth run of the campaign. However, he has been a model of consistency and was second to Shining Armor at Yarmouth on his most recent outing. That was his first try at seven furlongs and it seemed to suit him so he should go well again this afternoon.
was stepping into handicap company for the first time at Pontefract last time and was beaten less than a length by warm favourite Lincoln Park. He looks the biggest threat to the selection. Another consistent performer
has a good each-way shout on these terms.
Ukulele,
(%,, LEICESTER
– also from the Johnston yard, looks the one to be on here. He has been placed in Listed company on two of his last three runs and will appreciate the drop in class. Between those two Listed efforts he was far from disgraced in a £39,000 handicap at Haydock and ought to have the measure of his seven rivals at the weights. Hughie Morrison’s
should make a race of it. The six-year-old failed by only a neck over course and distance behind Byron Flyer
aÊÊ and a repetition of that would put him in with great chance.
)%(, REDCAR
– was disappointing last time out, but can be forgiven that run as it was in a £63,000 handicap at York. Karl Burke’s runner is best judged on his second of 11 here behind Darksideoftarnside. Clifford Lee was in the plate that day and he is back in the saddle this afternoon.
was also well below-par on his last run, but again that was in a highly competitive Haydock handicap. Prior to that he was a good winner from Stormin Tom at Catterick.
seems nicely weighted after winning a modest handicap at Newcastle last time and won’t be far away if she can progress from that promising performance. She is lightly raced and is almost certainly a filly still on the upgrade.
+%+, CHELMSFORD -
trained by Simon Crisford, pictured, was a little unlucky in running when going under to the Jamie Osborne-trained Jersey Wonder at Wolverhampton earlier this month. The selection was carried right at a crucial stage and should improve several pounds for that debut effort.
was only a neck behind the selection, but that was his second run aAnCdTit: sDeetmtosricertain that Say The Word will have his
CruLnASS celebrates as Enable holds off SeamOeafsCulraesasgain.