Nicholls makes it ten as Politologue wins Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown

With teenage jockey Harry Cobden at the helm, Politologue ran a perfect race and came in ahead of the Colin Tizzard-trained Fox Norton with Ar Mad third.

Cobden has been given his opportunity for first-jockey responsibilities by Nicholls due to an injury to Sam Twiston-Davies, but the 19-year-old showed no nerves in a fine success.

Having failed in a chance at Grade 1 glory at Aintree in April, Haldon Gold Cup winner Politologue was settled off the expected fierce gallop set by Ar Mad. Having taken up the running, Cobden and his mount fought the attentions of everything Fox Norton could throw at them in the closing stages to win by half a length. Ar Mad was partly rewarded for his early endeavours with a third place finish, albeit a further five lengths back from the front-running pair.

Victory gave Cobden his biggest win to date and took Nicholl’s success in the race into double figures.

Speaking afterwards, Nicholls said: “That means an awful lot, we are just short of a Grade One horse and I always believed in this one. It was a good ride from Harry and I’m delighted for everybody.”

Cobden 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.”

Nicholls added: “He is starting to look the proper job. I knew 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. 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 the wrong thing. That’s why I said we will go to back to two at Aintree and we were unlucky that day.
I suspect we will go to Ascot (for the Clarence House Chase) now at the end of January then on to Cheltenham.”

Hales, who has owned other top two-milers such as One Man and Azertyuiop but never won the Tingle Creek, said: “It is a wonderful win.

“I’m absolutely delighted so it is onwards and upwards now. He is only a six-year-old. I thought we had a chance.

Also on Saturday, Blaklion laid down a marker for next year’s Grand National with an impressive nine-length victory in the Becher Chase at Aintree.

In a race run over the Grand National course, Gavin Sheehan rode the favourite, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, to a record sixth victory in the race. Last Samurai was second and Highland Lodge third.