Defi Du Seuil heads Betfair Tingle Creek field
Last Updated: 02/12/19 1:57pm
Previous winners Un De Sceaux and Politologue appear alongside Defi Du Seuil among eight entries for Saturday's Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.
Politologue, successful in 2017, has already come up against Defi Du Seuil once this season in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.
On that occasion Philip Hobbs' younger rival quickened up smartly to win, but this time around Paul Nicholls' grey will be 3lb better off and the champion trainer is hoping that will be enough - with the aid of a run under his belt - to enable him to turn the tables.
"A faster run race would have suited us last time, but there were no excuses as it was our first run of the season," said Nicholls.
"He was beaten by a very good horse, but it will be interesting to see what happens on Saturday.
"We are hoping Un De Sceaux might come over and go a very good gallop. Politologue is all ready to go though."
Nicholls has also entered Dolos.
Un De Sceaux may be rising 12, but trainer Willie Mullins reports him to be showing all his old exuberance on the gallops as he prepares for his third run in the race, having won in 2016 and finished second to Altior 12 months ago.
Nicky Henderson has entered Janika after he made a stylish winning return to action in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, while in the same Simon Munir and Isaac Souede ownership is Alan King's Sceau Royal, who ran such a good race in the Champion Chase last season.
Ruth Jefferson has given Waiting Patiently the option and Henry de Bromhead's Ornua could also make the journey from Ireland.
Also on the card is the Grade One Read Road To Cheltenham At racingtv.com Henry VIII Novices' Chase, but missing from the anticipated field is Olly Murphy's Brewin'upastorm.
Murphy tweeted: "Unfortunately Brewin'upastorm will miss his intended target @Sandownpark this weekend due to a small setback."
Dan Skelton is responsible for three of the eight novices in Nube Negra, Beakstown and the mare Maire Banrigh.
Nicholls could run Grand Sancy with Tom George's Summerville Boy a possible along with Nigel Twiston-Davies' Torpillo.
Esprit Du Large and Return Ticket complete the list.
