Festival Watch: Nicholls eyeing Cheltenham with chaser Politologue

At this year's Festival, the grey finished just outside the placings in the JLT Novices' Chase, one year after a lacklustre show, at a well-backed price, in the Coral Cup.

That was then followed by a fall at Aintree but two wins this season and hopes for next year are high again, after Nicholls guided his charge to his tenth career Tingle Creek Chase.

With Douvan out of the Sandown showpiece, the stage was set for Colin Tizzard's odds-on favourite Fox Norton to make a statement ahead of March's Champion's Chase, where he finished second last year to surprise winner Special Tiara.

But he left himself too much to do and, after struggling over the second-last, could not catch the leader who jumped superbly to win by three quarters of a length.

Politologue has now earned a best price of 10-1 heading into the Cheltenham Festival and Nicholls has the confidence that the six-year-old has what it takes to compete on the big stage.

And, perhaps, win for owner John Hales, 15 years after brilliant chaser Azertyuiop won the Champion Chase in the same colours.

He said: "That victory means an awful lot, we are just short of a Grade One horse and I always believed in this one.

"He is starting to look the proper job. I knew when he went to Exeter there would be huge improvement.

"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."

This was jockey Harry Cobden's second Grade 1 victory and he secured it with an excellent ride, kicking off at the perfect time coming off the home bend.

He said: "He's a lovely horse, the first day I sat on him was at Haydock over two and a half on heavy ground, he took a bit of my heart that day and he's got it all now."

Meanwhile, Sceau Royal may head straight to Cheltenham after he pipped the fancied Brain Power at the final hurdle of the Henry VIII Novice's Chase.

Alan King's horse came from behind in a field full of promising youngsters to finish 11 lengths clear of North Hill Harvey, who had beaten him at Cheltenham earlier in the season.

The five-year-old jumped efficiently to a commanding finish and trainer King now has his sights set on the Festival's first day Arkle Chase.

"He has been slick from day one. From Warwick on his debut, he has been very good. I wouldn't mind if he went straight to the Arkle. We will see."

Jonathan Harding/Sportsbeat 2017