Politologue out to prove himself a King George contender in 1965 Chase

2.05 Ascot
Christy 1965 Chase (Grade 2) | 4yo+ | 2m5f | ITV/RUK

Top-class chaser Politologue is due to make his highly anticipated seasonal return in the Grade 2 Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot.

Connections of the seven-year-old, who proved a star last season when registering Grade 1 successes in the Tingle Creek and Melling Chase at Aintree, had considered a potential tilt at the Betfair Chase at Haydock, but turn to Ascot as the this year's starting point for the son of Poliglote.

Owner John Hales hopes the race can be a stepping stone to the King George and dreams Politologue could become a Cheltenham Gold Cup contender.

Paul Nicholls said: "We'll know more about the future after the race, but he's had a good preparation and he's ready to go.

"He's a Tingle Creek winner so he's not short of speed and then he won over two and a half miles at Aintree, so this is a good place to start."

Gary Moore will be hoping that Benatar can recapture the form that saw him win three novice chases last season, including two at Ascot, before going on to finish an impressive third in the JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Moore believes a line can be put through the six-year-old's disappointing reappearance at Newton Abbot last month, where he finished fourth of five after being sent off the 15-8 favourite.

Benatar: progressive novice chaser last seasonCredit: Mark Cranham

"We had him in good form for Newton Abbot but the race really was not run to suit," Moore said. "There was no pace on at all and to see him at his best he’s got to be held up and he should get more of chance to do that in the sort of race we’ve got him in."

Clearly hopeful of an improved performance, Moore added: "He’s obviously very talented on what he did last year and he’s heading back to a track that he clearly loves, he won there twice last season – I’d rather take him back to Ascot after that reappearance than anywhere else."

What they say

Kim Bailey, trainer of Charbel
He’s come out of Chepstow really well and has had a nice gap to recover and get ready for tomorrow – he looks really well.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Gold Present
He’s had a wind operation and he’s run well in the past when he’s been fresh. He seems in good form and we’re happy to get him started.

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer of Sizing Granite
It was far too short a trip for him at Cheltenham on Sunday as he's crying out for further as he gets older. With only half a dozen in the race, there's some prize-money up for grabs.

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