BETFAIR TINGLE CREEK

(GRADE 1 )

PAUL NICHOLLS may face a long, hard battle to regain the trainers’ title but he has a formidable ally in Politologue, who gave the stable its 10th success in the Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

There was only half a length to spare over red-hot favourite Fox Norton (8/13), but 19-year-old Harry Cobden, destined for the top with this evidence, showed the confidence of a veteran to outpoint Robbie Power up the famous Sandown hill. It was five lengths back to Ar Mad.

Politologue led at a good pace but the field closed before the Pond fence (third last). Politologue, always close up, went on after the next but Fox Norton followed him through and was close enough if good enough as they landed over the last. He gave his all but the winner, 7/2, was always just holding him. It was a sight to gladden the heart on a bitterly cold afternoon.

Politologue is a six-year-old, a year younger than his principal rival, and he was entitled to come on following his seasonal debut success in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter. He also looks effective on ground with some cut, an important factor when the Queen Mother Champion Chase comes around in March. He was a little warm beforehand but it made no difference to his performance and Cobden made sure he chased the free-running Ar Mad without joining issue too soon.

“I knew he needed the run at Exeter and I also knew he was right today,” Nicholls said. “John Hales (owner) always wanted him to be a Gold Cup horse so we tried to make him a three-miler. But at Haydock and Cheltenham last year I thought we were doing the wrong thing; then he was unlucky at Aintree, so that’s why we’re back to two miles. Harry is a really good young jockey and I’ve a lot of faith in him. This was a big occasion for him but he’s chilled and did an exceptional job. It’s good to give the youngsters a chance.”

Politologue was made a 7/1 chance for the Queen Mother Champion Chase by several firms. He will have to come up against Altior and Douvan at some stage but Hales has never avoided taking on the best and expressed disappointment that they were absent on this occasion.

Fox Norton should not be considered a disappointment, although fingers were burned at the price. He slightly missed the first and was awkward two out, but for which it might have been very close indeed. However, Colin Tizzard is thinking of moving him up in trip, even if speculation about the King George followed by the Ryanair is premature. He is a very good horse indeed, though the overall impression was that Politologue may just have a little bit more ‘toe’ over the minimum trip.

Sadly, the Tom George-trained Sir Valentino suffered a fatal fall when out of contention. His rider Adrian Heskin stayed with the eight-year-old gelding and gave up his ride in the last race, which was delayed as the horse was tended to. Unfortunately it was to no avail. Sir Valentino had recently won a valubale handicap at Ascot and remarkably improved his rating from 122 to 162 in his previous two seasons.