Defi Du Seuil gets Geraghty giddy with Tingle Creek next on the agenda

The smile said almost as much as the turn of foot. Barry Geraghty has a long association with top two-mile chasers and you can now add Defi Du Seuil to the list after he sprinted past Politologue to book his Tingle Creek ticket.

It goes without saying that Defi Du Seuil has a long, long way to go before we put him in the same sentences as Sprinter Sacre or Moscow Flyer, but he certainly excites Geraghty and the rider could not stop smiling when talking about the smart six-year-old, who was cut into 7-1 from 10-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase by Ladbrokes.

"He's brilliant and he has a great attitude. He's not the biggest horse in the world but, for his size, he has great scope and bottle. He's a joy to ride. He has pace and he quickened well there. He's not slow," said Geraghty.

So, does that mean he is more a Champion Chaser than a Ryanair winner in waiting?

"I hope he's one of them anyway," was the reply. Geraghty was not getting caught in any chat about targets.

Defi Du Seuil thwarting the challenge of PolitologueCredit: Grossick Racing

That decision is down to Philip Hobbs and JP McManus, and the fact the Tingle Creek is next on the agenda would suggest the Champion Chase is a more likely destination. Paddy Power make him their 15-8 favourite for the Sandown contest on the first Saturday of December, from 5-2.

Hobbs said: "I'm sure the two-mile route is the plan, but it is a flexible plan. We'll go to the Tingle Creek and take it from there. He has plenty of pace, but the softer ground would have helped today. He would go on any ground but, on good ground, two miles is less of a test of stamina."

The trainer added: "He's a gorgeous horse and has such a great temperament. When he came here last year he ballooned a few so we had to make sure that wasn't going to happen this time."

First impressions are always best. After Defi Du Seuil and Lostintranslation traded blows up the hill in last season's JLT, it looked like both were destined for the top. Perhaps we were right.

Lostintranslation is now a leading fancy for the Magners Gold Cup and will be next seen in the Betfair Chase on Saturday, while his Cheltenham conqueror is now starting to stand out in a murky Champion Chase picture without Altior.

Hobbs added: "I'm delighted he managed to win, as four runners is never ideal for a horse like him. Especially when the pace isn't that strong, and there was a lack of room there, though he managed to push out of the gap. Although he obviously stays very well, he's got loads of pace. And he's very brave, isn't he? He does dig deep."

Dig deep he did and Defi Du Seuil needed to be very brave to get by Politologue, who seemed to really enjoy himself out in front and was only headed 100 yards from home. The pair will renew rivalries in the Tingle Creek and what a sumptuous showdown that will be. Harry Cobden is already looking forward to it.

The jockey said: "I'm delighted with him. It was always going to be hard, we had to make the running and Defi Du Seuil was always going to do him for gears going up the hill. Maybe I could have gone a bit faster but we'd probably have given him a tow into it a little bit more.

"He'll go to the Tingle Creek now. Un De Sceaux and a few others will go a gallop from the front and you'll see a better horse then. He's run a blinder."

All roads now lead to Sandown.

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