Defi Du Seuil deserves Tingle Creek favourite tag says Richard Johnson

Champion jockey Richard Johnson believes Betfair Tingle Creek favourite Defi Du Seuil has the right credentials for his tough test at Sandown on Saturday.

Barry Geraghty rides the JP McManus-owned six-year-old in the Grade 1 showpiece but Johnson knows the JLT Novices' Chase winner well, having partnered him on five occasions, including for his Triumph Hurdle success in 2017 and when second to Chacun Pour Soi at Punchestown in May.

Johnson, who is closely associated with Defi Du Seuil's trainer Philip Hobbs, is full of hope the former juvenile sensation can show his class in the Tingle Creek against the likes of Un De Sceaux, Sceau Royal and Politologue.

"He's a very talented horse and improved all through last season, and hopefully there's more to come," Johnson said on Thursday.

Richard Johnson: champion jockey has ridden Defi Du Seuil five timesCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

"After Cheltenham [last month] this looks the right route to take with Defi and they're very happy with him at home. I know Barry was very pleased with him at Cheltenham as well. I like to think he goes there as the deserved favourite and hopefully he'll be very hard to beat."

Following Defi Du Seuil's victory over Politologue in the Shloer Chase, Hobbs acknowledged there had been some debate about the best trip to tackle this season, given his star's Grade 1 novice chase victories over two and a half miles in the Scilly Isles and JLT.

Defi Du Seuil is priced between 5-1 and 10-1 for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and Johnson believes his surplus stamina is a bonus in a wide-open two-mile division.

He said: "He's a horse who won over two and a half miles last season so I'm sure a strongly run two miles should be ideal for him. Hopefully everything at Sandown will suit him well.

"When you get a horse who stays well it gives you more options. The Shloer was the obvious place to start to see how he fared and given how he won there, the natural progression was to go to Sandown. Champion Chase horses are normally strong stayers anyway."

One significant unknown is the route Nicky Henderson will take with Altior following his first defeat over fences to Cyrname at Ascot last month over the intermediate trip of 2m5f.

Although the superstar nine-year-old remains entered in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase over three miles on Boxing Day, Henderson hinted this week the Tingle Creek could determine whether the dual Champion Chase winner returns to two miles.

Altior is the ante-post favourite for the Champion Chase and Johnson believes he would be the one to beat if connections opt to drop back in trip.

He added: "Altior is the reigning champion over two miles and ran a good race at Ascot a couple of weeks ago. If he comes back [in trip] he's the one who sets the benchmark on levels of ability. He’s a dual Champion Chase winner and a fantastic horse."

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