A Skelton masterclass

A new training regime brings out the best in John Hales’ champion chaser, Politologue, and Harry Skelton’s Grade One double is the toast of Sandown

- MARCUS ARMYTAGE

Betfair Tingle Creek Festival, Sandown Park, Surrey

THREE years after winning his first Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown, Politologue landed his second on Saturday when he made all the running to beat stablemate Greaneteen seven lengths in what is traditionally the first major test of the two-mile chasing division.

With the two-time Champion chaser Altior, only beaten once in 21 starts over obstacles, pulled out late the evening before on account of the soft ground, the race naturally lost a degree of interest.

But, having once looked something of a one-hit wonder who slightly fell between two stools – not quick enough for two miles but lacking the stamina for three –is it time Politologue started getting some credit? Now that Paul Nicholls has worked out how to get the best out of him, he is putting together a nice little portfolio of the top two-mile chases.

After disappointing in last year’s Tingle Creek, which Nicholls felt came too soon after the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, the trainer went back to the drawing board and told owner John Hales that he would like to go straight to the Champion Chase, have him fresh but extremely fit and make the race a test of stamina.

Of course, the Cheltenham race slightly fell apart behind him and the favourite Defi Du Seuil appeared to have an off-day but that was, in part, due to the gallop set by Politologue.