Politologue

Politologue was very good in winning the Grade 2 Christy 1965 Chase over 2m 5f. He always travelled well just behind the leaders, Gold Present and Hammersly Lake, he jumped well, and he moved up on the outside to join Gold Present in front as they raced up the side of the track. Sam Twiston-Davies waited in front, he didn’t want to go on too early, and they got in a bit tight to both the second last and the last fences, which gave Charbel a chance. But it never really looked like Paul Nicholls’ horse was going to get beaten and, while he only got home by a half a length in the end, he left the impression that he had a fair bit more in hand than that.

The form of the race is strong. He was giving 6lb to Charbel, who was giving Altior a race in the 2017 Arkle when he came down at the second last, and who was race fit. Kim Bailey’s horse beat Baron Alco at Chepstow in October, giving him 12lb, and Baron Alco won the BetVictor Gold Cup next time. Politologue and Charbel were clear on Saturday, and the winning time was good.

Paul Nicholls’ horse deserves to take his chance in the King George now. We don’t know if he will stay three miles, but we know that he stays two miles and five furlongs well at Ascot, and the King George is only another three furlongs further, at an easier track. John Hales’ horse record over two and a half miles or more away from Cheltenham, where he has never really been seen to best effect, reads 2112111. He wore a hood and a tongue-tie on his final run last season at Aintree, when he beat Min in the Melling Chase, and he wore the same combination on Saturday. Those two runs have probably been the two best runs of his life. He is only seven, and he could step up again in the King George.

Ascot, 24^th November 2018