Betway Champion Chase: Tears of joy as Politologue has his day in sun

Paul Nicholls sent out an unexpected one-two in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase as the gallant Politologue tasted deserved Cheltenham Festival glory at the fifth attempt, leaving owner John Hales and winning rider Harry Skelton choking back tears of joy in the winner's enclosure.

With the late withdrawals of Altior and Chacun Pour Soi, it appeared that Defi Du Seuil would face relatively simple task given the way his stellar season had gone.

But while he was sent off the 2-5 favourite, Barry Geraghty was sending distress signals out a long way from home and he never looked like getting on terms.

Remarkably, the winner and stablemate Dynamite Dollars were the first runners of the meeting for Paul Nicholls and he filled the first two places in one of the biggest races of the week.

Harry Skelton was positive in front on the grey, making his fifth Festival appearance with his previous best coming when second to Altior in this 12 months ago.

The result barely looked in any doubt once he got loose coming down the hill and the chance had nine and a half lengths in hand crossing the line. Defi Du Seuil trailed in a well-beaten fourth.

Nicholls said: "My plan when I rang John up at Christmas was I said I wasn't going to run him until the Champion Chase.

"I wanted to do everything I could to have him fit and fresh and all week and he's just been looking amazing. He had a great prep. He ran ran well last year and was entitled to go close on that run, and I thought he was in a better place.

"It's his fifth Festival in a row and that's a testament to the horse - he bled after the Tingle Creek and we just changed a few things.

"He does all his work on the level and trotting up the road. We just tweaked his work to stop him bleeding and he did the job right."

Hales was winning the race for the third time after One Man and Azertyuiop, and said: "That was brilliant. We dictated it from start to finish. Tactically, Harry got it absolutely right.

"In his previous race we thought they'd gone too slow, so I said make your own pace. If that means going on from the start, run the finish out of them - and that's what he did. I've over the moon.

“I have to congratulate Paul Nicholls for getting our horse in that condition – he was as sharp as a razor.

“To win a third Queen Mother – it’s unbelievable. This is a horse with a wonderful attitude – just like Neptune – and that means everything to me. They’re like peas out of the same pod.

“I’m sorry Altior didn’t run – I would have loved to have taken him on with that performance. His owner Mrs Pugh has congratulated me and so has JP McManus (owner of Defi Du Seuil).”

Of the beaten favourite, trainer Philip Hobbs said: "I've no idea what happened really. He has been great all season and won his three races. We thought he came here in very good form, as everything had gone well with him at home, then that happens, and at this stage we have no idea what happened.

"Even before three out he wasn't happy with him. Obviously we will get him back home and check him over. We will have a look at things at the next week then decide what to do."

Geraghty added: "He was never really going. I was trying to nurse him into it, but I knew from the back of the third-last that the game was up. Full credit to the winner and he was the last horse that Defi passed here in November. He got his day and it was well justified.

"He is fine and healthy and he is okay. For no obvious reason he didn't perform, but he will have other days. He is still a gorgeous horse and I'm sure there is plenty more fun to be had with him."