Defi Du Seuil faces season-defining clash in tantalising Tingle Creek

Defi Du Seuil's performance in Saturday's Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown will tell trainer Philip Hobbs where to point him at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Shloer Chase winner is on course for another clash with Politologue but will also have to master Un De Sceaux, who landed the race in 2016.

Defi Du Seuil is a best-priced 10-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March, run over the same two-mile trip as the Tingle Creek, and 6-1 favourite for the 2m4f Ryanair Chase.

The six-year-old looked better than ever when beating Politologue at Cheltenham last month and on Monday was the 13-8 favourite with the sponsor to collect a sixth Grade 1 success in the Tingle Creek.

Philip Hobbs: trainer of Defi Du SeuilCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hobbs said: "He has come out of his Cheltenham race very well and we have been pleased with him at home in the meantime. The plan is, and always has been, to run at Sandown on Saturday.

"What happens there will determine where we go next for the rest of the season and it will be discussed afterwards. But let's get Saturday out of the way first."

Politologue is set to try and repeat his success in the race two years ago and his trainer Paul Nicholls said: "We have been very pleased with him at home since his run at Cheltenham. If they go a good gallop at Sandown that will play to his strengths."

Un De Sceaux has not been seen since securing a memorable victory in the Punchestown Champion Chase in April but the 11-year-old looks set to return in search of a second Tingle Creek success.

Un De Sceaux: won the Punchestown Champion Chase in AprilCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The Alan King-trained Sceau Royal and Janika, an impressive winner for Nicky Henderson in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last month, are also among the eight possible runners.

Henderson said: "He goes for the Tingle Creek. There's Defi Du Seuil, Un De Sceaux, Politologue and Sceau Royal so it's a very hot race, but he was good in the Haldon Gold Cup so he’s earned a shot at it."

Summerville Boy's Henry VIII status up in the air

Summerville Boy is one of eight to remain in contention for the Henry VIII Novices' Chase, which is the first Grade 1 at Sandown on Saturday afternoon.

The 2018 Supreme winner lost his way over hurdles last season but looked rejuvenated when making a winning chasing debut at Uttoxeter at the start of November.

However, the seven-year-old is not certain to line up at Sandown as he has also been entered for a 2m3f novice chase at Exeter on Friday.

Summerville Boy: won the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

His owner Roger Brookhouse explained: "We are not sure where he will go at the weekend as we have the choice of Exeter or the Sandown race. We will make a decision later in the week but he will run in one of them."

He could be joined in the field by Nicholls' Grade 2-winning hurdler Grand Sancy, who is set for his chasing debut after finishing runner-up behind the classy Fusil Raffles at Wincanton last month.

Nicholls said: "Grand Sancy is a definite runner as things stand at Sandown as we have always thought his long-term future would be over fences."

Dan Skelton could have as many as three runners with Marie Banrigh, who has won her last four starts, and talented stablemates Beakstown and Nube Negra.

Torpillo, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was impressive on his chasing debut at Warwick, where he accounted for the classy Mister Fisher.

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