Politologue stakes claim for Champion Chase success

PERFECT 10 FOR TRAINER NICHOLLS

POLITOLOGUE staked his is Queen Mother Champion n Chase claim as he presented d Paul Nicholls with his 10th win n in the Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown.

The six-year-old finished d fourth in the JLT Chase at the e Cheltenham Festival last seaason before slipping up at the e last with a Grade One seem- ingly in the bag at Aintree, but ut he righted that record here.

Politologue showed the ben- efit of his Haldon Gold Cup win n at Exeter last month as he travvelled strongly for Harry Cob- den before fending off the late e challenge of 8-13 favourite Fox x Norton by half a length at the e line.

Nicholls, who has saddled d the likes of Kauto Star, Master r Minded and Twist Magic to vic- tory in this two-mile race, has no doubt all roads now lead to the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Nicholls said: “He is starting to look the proper job. I knew. Brain Power and David Mullins part company at the last fence during The Randoxhealth.com Henry VIII Novices’ Steeple Chase Race at Sandown Park Racecourse when he went to Exeter there would be huge improvement.

“No one ever believes you when you say they need a run, but he hadn’t been back long enough really.

“I knew they would go quick and his jumping stands him in great stead. Harry said he just cruises there and ends up idling in front. The faster they go, the more he can get a tow into the race. John (Hales, owner) has always wanted him to be a Gold Cup horse. I just thought at Haydock last season and at Cheltenham we were riding him wrong and doing