The Paul Nicholls-trained Politologue is set to run at Kempton Park today in the Matchbook Traders Conference Graduation Chase in which he will face just one rival in the £20,000 contest.
The John Hales-owned grey gelding was originally due to run at Warwick in the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase on Saturday but with regular pilot Sam Twiston-Davies due to ride Betfair Hurdle favourite Ballyandy at Newbury, Politologue was rerouted to Kempton where he will take on Dan Skelton’s Pain Au Chocolat.
The six-year-old son of Poliglote has progressed well this season winning a pair of novice chase events at Haydock Park and Ascot in November and December.
However, despite being sent off the 6/4 favourite, the French-bred gelding could only finish a length and a quarter behind exciting chaser Waiting Patiently at Haydock Park over two miles and four furlongs in a Grade Two event last month with the pair pulling well clear of the rest of the field.
Nicholls’ charge again races over the same distance at Kempton on Friday and looks certain to go for the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Twiston-Davies commented: “Obviously we hope this is the next step towards Cheltenham. Kempton is a good test for a novice but, to be fair, he’s excelled in the jumping department in his three runs this season.
“Pain Au Chocolat is no mug, he should keep him honest. It’s a bit more experience for both horses, so we’ll have to see how he gets on.”
Reflecting on Politologue’s defeat last time, the jockey commented: “I don’t think he lost much in defeat last time, he gave 4lb to a very good horse and we did all the donkey work.
“I think he’ll be a better horse with a lead and he’ll be better again on nice ground, both things he should get at Cheltenham.”
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