Politologue takes his form to a new level with Tingle Creek victory

Flying grey: Politologue and Harry Cobden clear the last in the Tingle Creek before sealing a tenth race victory for trainer Paul NichollsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Leading two-milers Douvan (178) and Altior (177) may have been absent but progressive second-season chaser Politologue (170) took his form to a new level in landing the Tingle Creek.

He jumped that little bit slicker than runner-up Fox Norton (170), who performed to a similar level as when winning on his Cheltenham reappearance.

The runner-up earned his career best RPR of 174 over two and a half miles at Aintree last year and will presumably go back up in trip after this.

As a time performance, the victory was worth a rating only on a par with Henry VIII Novices' Chase winner Sceau Royal (166+), who had seen off Brain Power (162) when the recent Kempton scorer unseated his rider at the last.

A career-best performance from Sceau Royal, his RPR of 166 already puts him at the level of an average winner of the Racing Post Arkle.

Tingle Creek-winning RPRs

2017 Politologue 170

2016 Un De Sceaux 170

2015 Sire De Grugy 171

2014 Dodging Bullets 169

2013 Sire De Grugy 170

2012 Sprinter Sacre 178

2011 Sizing Europe 172

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Steve MasonSenior handicapper

Published on 9 December 2017inReports

Last updated 18:38, 9 December 2017

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