Paul Nicholls previews the 32Red King George VI Chase
Paul Nicholls is confident Politologue will stay the trip in the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
He spearheads the former champion trainer's team for the Grade One showpiece and arrives on the back of a victory over subsequent Peterborough Chase winner Charbel at Ascot.
That was over two-and-a-half miles and he will run over three for the first time next week.
Speaking at the launch of the 32Red Winter Festival Nicholls said: "I'm very pleased with him, straight back cantering. It didn’t take too much out of him at all and he is back in full work. He stayed on really strongly that day, obviously the form is good, he gave 6lb when beating Charbel. That form is rock solid the way that Charbel won at Huntingdon.
"He stayed on strongly, travelled well into the race, idled a bit in front and galloped all the way from the back of the last to the line. If he didn’t stay he wouldn’t have won the race. He has just never been over three miles that’s just the way it has worked out, but he has won over two miles five furlongs and two miles three furlongs, he will be fine I am sure he will.
"Though he won the Tingle Creek last year, Altior wasn't there and one or two others so it probably wasn’t quite as hot as it might have been and then we stepped up in trip at Aintree.
"Obviously two miles was too sharp for him at Cheltenham, he was much more impressive over two and half miles and he is bred to stay. We always thought he was going to be a stayer, it’s just he is not short of pace and he has done well up to now.
"Kauto Star - who won five King Georges - had the same sort of profile to run in Haldon Gold Cups and over two and half at Ascot and things like that and ended up getting three, so I am hoping he will. There are a lot of things in his favour really.
"The flat track suits him, right handed suits him and I am really sure the race will suit him. He is high class. None of us know if he will quite get the last bit of the trip but I don’t think it is an issue really."
Sky Bet make Politologue a 6/1 shot in their antepost King George market, with the betting currently headed by Might Bite at 3/1.
Nicholls' other 32Red King George VI Challenger, Clan Des Obeaux (20/1), made his reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and finished fourth behind Bristol De Mai who will reoppose at Kempton.
"He ran well, he is a very inexperienced horse, progressing. If it had been a handicap he would have got an awful lot of weight off the others, which probably begs the issue that I should have run him in the Ladbrokes Trophy as it turns out!
"He ran very, very well - he would have learnt a lot. He jumps slightly right handed, so Kempton will probably suit him better than Haydock.
"That puts him right in the mix. He wasn’t beaten far by Thistlecrack or Native River, so the form is good. If he can just improve, we will be in with a shout. He is only six years old and they can just keep on improving. We have had to mind him and I am really looking forward to letting him go."
Tickets for the 32Red Winter Festival at Kempton Park on 26 and 27 December are on sale from www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/kempton or 0344 579 3008.
GET THE FULL PICTURE: Don't miss out on FREE video replays and our fantastic My Stable tracker. Log in now and become a Sporting Life Insider.
Related horse racing links
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
