Hales warns it will take something special to beat Politologue in King George

He may have the one-two from the Cheltenham Gold Cup and a dual Betfair Chase winner standing in his path, but owner John Hales believes Politologue is ready to turn the established order among the staying chasers on its head when he tackles three miles for the first time in the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Little more than 12 months on from staking his claim as one of the top two-milers when landing the Tingle Creek, Politologue is just 5-1 with the sponsor to come out on top against Native River, Might Bite and Bristol De Mai, a feat that would bring trainer Paul Nicholls a historic tenth King George triumph.

Politologue was one of 11 horses left in the race at Thursday's confirmation stage, with Altior the only horse below 50-1 to come out.

Hales is in no mood to downplay his expectations of a big run from Politologue, whom he expects to prove just as effective upped in trip.

"He's proved in his last two runs the tongue tie has made all the difference to finishing off his races," said Hales, whose two King George victories came in the same calendar year courtesy of One Man, winner of a snow-delayed edition at Sandown in January 1996 and again that December back at Kempton.

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"I made a point of asking Sam [Twiston-Davies] after his comeback how he felt at the end of two miles five, because he'd never gone that far. Two miles five at Ascot with that uphill finish has got to be the equivalent of three miles around Kempton on a flat track.

"Sam said he idled a bit – which he did in the Tingle Creek – but was really strong at the end and whenever something comes at him from behind, he'll not let them pass."

Last season's Tingle Creek win somewhat dictated a two-mile campaign but, having been beaten by Altior at Newbury and again at Cheltenham, Politologue put in arguably his best performance to date when upped to two and a half miles at Aintree in April.

Politologue stays on strongly to beat Min over two and a half miles at Aintree in AprilCredit: Alex Livesey

"I think the whole turning point was the tongue tie because, while he'd been winning races, he wasn’t really finishing his races off," said Hales. "When they came over the second-last at Aintree I thought he would fade a bit but he outstayed Min.

"That was the last race of his season and he was exactly the same first time out at Ascot, where he stayed beautifully, so I don’t think he’ll have a problem getting three miles. It’s got to be a very good horse who'll beat him."

With Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford leaving the going unchanged at good to soft, good in places, any worry about stamina-sapping soft ground appears to be on the retreat for the Politologue camp.

"Good to soft would be perfect and Kempton dries up pretty quick," said Hales. "It'll be run at a fast pace, which will suit him because he's a good, fast jumper. If he doesn't make any mistakes, I think he's got a great chance."

John Hales: 'I don’t think he’ll have a problem getting the three miles and it’s got to be a very good horse who will beat him'Credit: Steve Davies

32Red betting on King George VI Chase [NRNB] 11-4 Might Bite, 5 Politologue, Waiting Patiently, 6 Bristol De Mai, 7 Native River, Thistlecrack, 14 Clan Des Obeaux, 16 Shattered Love, 25 Double Shuffle, 33 Coneygree, Tea For Two

Opinion Pol

Racing Post betting editor Paul Kealy assesses Politologue's prospects

You can never be really sure a horse will stay until it proves it, but it's worth remembering Politologue thrashed some decent horses over trips of around two and a half miles (Rock The Kasbah, Vintage Clouds) as a five-year-old novice at a time when he didn't settle as well as he does now.

Connections always considered him more of a stayer than a two-miler and, despite a Tingle Creek win last season, he has taken off since going back up in trip with wins over Min and, last time, Charbel at Ascot. Against Charbel he was conceding 6lb to a horse who has since turned the Peterborough into a procession, so that's rock-solid form.

It doesn't look like the ground at Kempton is going to be bottomless and I have a feeling he's going to be a major player in an open race.

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