Exciting Politologue out to avenge Aintree spill in Haldon Gold Cup

188Bet Haldon Gold Cup (Grade 2) | 2m1½f, 4yo+ | RUK

The three major players from Aintree's Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase in April reunite early in the jumps season and the interest runs deeper than the fact they renew rivalry in a handicap.

Politologue, the horse that probably would have won the race but for stumbling on landing at the last, will carry 1lb less than the actual winner San Benedeto and he in turn has 3lb less than Forest Bihan, who arguably threw it away by idling after Politologue's fall had seemingly presented him with the race.

Plenty of the older chasers are also well known to one another, and to this race. Sir Valentino beat Garde La Victoire a short head last year, while 12 months earlier Vibrato Valtat won for Paul Nicholls. Here he makes his first start for Emma Lavelle.

Ar Mad, meanwhile, runs for the first time since finishing a creditable fourth in the Tingle Creek almost a year ago, while jockey Joshua Moore also returns after suffering a broken ankle in early August.

Second-season chasers are generally the ones to side with in a race that is often used as a starting point by top two-milers in need of a run before the Tingle Creek. God's Own and Cue Card are among those who have used this as a first step into the open ranks.

Sir Valentino (right) and Garde La Victoire lock horns in the Haldon Gold CupCredit: Harry Trump

What they say

Gary Moore, trainer of Ar Mad
We had Sire De Grugy in there too, but have decided to just run Ar Mad. He's fine and we're starting him off over a stiff two miles and taking it from there regarding trip. We wouldn't be averse to going left-handed at some stage, but if we can go the other way round we will.

Tom George, trainer of Sir Valentino
He's had a good preparation, but it's obviously difficult to win the race two years in a row when he's gone right up in the weights for running well in good races and being placed in a Champion Chase. He's earned the right to run in all the same sort of races again after this, all being well.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Forest Bihan
He's worse off with the Nicholls pair from Aintree, but you're limited in where you can go with these horses and he looks like he's improved since Kelso – he's flying at home. He idled in front last time, as he did at Aintree, so the idea is to play him as late as we can. If it goes well I'd imagine we'd go down the Tingle Creek route.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of San Benedeto and Politologue
San Benedeto had a nice run around Kempton the other day to get him ready for this and I'm claiming 5lb off him because he's not the biggest in the world and he's handicapped right up to his best. Bryony [Frost] knows him well and rides him a lot at home. Politologue is a smart horse and Waiting Patiently winning at Carlisle on Sunday solidified his form a bit more. I'm still not sure what his best trip will be – I'd imagine it will be closer to this end of the scale than three miles but we should know a lot more after this race. He'll come on for it but he's had a racecourse gallop.

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