Starchitect and Politologue lead Kingmaker contenders

Former smart handicap hurdler Starchitect is among nine entries for the reopened Betway Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick on Saturday. The David Pipe-trained six-year-old opened his account over fences at the third time of asking at Ayr last month. Paul Nicholls has entered Politologue and Frodon, while Dan Skelton also has two possibles in Knockgraffon and Two Taffs. Kerry Lee has put in Gino Trail, but he also holds an entry in the Betfair Exchange Chase (formerly known as the Game Spirit) at Newbury on the same day. Completing the list are Harry Fry's Overtown Express, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Flying Angel and Richard Hobson's Chic Name. Sam Twiston-Davies faces a difficult decision if Politologue takes up his Kingmaker engagement. Twiston-Davies also has the option of going to Newbury to ride either Ballyandy for his father, Nigel, or Zubayr, for Nicholls in the Betfair Hurdle. However, the races are less than an hour apart making it tight to ride in both."If Politologue runs at Warwick, it starts getting a bit tight to get back," said Nicholls."I think Barry Geraghty will end up riding Movewiththetimes, but I don't make that decision, and Nick Scholfield could possibly ride Zubayr - Nick won on him last year. That's probably what will happen, but that's not set in stone."Obviously Sam has the choice but he could ride his dad's yet, we'll see. Sam doesn't have a retainer, no contract, we just have a gentleman's agreement."I don't think there's a lot between them, Zubayr's form in Auteuil was very good and I don't think we've really had him right yet. I think soft ground and a fast-run two miles will suit him really tidy."Movewiththetimes is unexposed, who knows where he could end up. He's a lovely horse but he's a chaser in the making and he just wants minding a little bit."