Ascot treble for Nicholls

DREAMS of owning another One Man have long been on the mind of John Hales and in Politologue he may just have found the answer as he served notice he could be a serious force over fences with victory in the Mitie Novices' Chase at Ascot.

Hales has been blessed with plenty of smart performers in the years following the retirement of the dashing grey, including Ayzertyuiop, Al Ferof, Noland and Grand National hero Neptune Collonges, and the five-year-old looks destined to join that list given the manner of his success in the Grade Two contest.

Sent straight to the front, the 10-11 favourite barely touched a twig as he put in an exhibition round to see off Rock The Kasbah by four lengths and form the final leg of a treble for Paul Nicholls and Sam Twiston-Davies.

Hales said: "I said when he won at Haydock that was the finest first round of novice jumping from any that I have ever had, including One Man. This one is hopefully a bit special."

Nicholls, who was winning the race for a third successive season, added: "Sam said he idled after the back of the last. We always knew he'd be good over fences.

"He was just a big, raw four-year-old last year, but he's shown us plenty since he's come back in this season and it was nice to see him do what he did at Haydock first time out.

"There's no need to be going too far at this stage. Two-mile-four, five or six is about as far as he needs to go, as he's got plenty of pace.

"It's unlikely he'll go for the RSA, but he could go for the two-and-a-half-mile race (JLT)."

The 10-times champion trainer already has one eye on the 2018 Cheltenham Festival for Capitaine (9-1) following his front-running success in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle.

Pulling out plenty from the sharp end the four-year-old was cut from 50-1 into 20-1 for this season's Supreme by the race sponsors after claiming the Grade Two prize by three and a half lengths.

Nicholls said: "I got the tactics wrong at Haydock, it was heavy ground and he was a bit keen. I told Harry Cobden to drop him in that day and he couldn't pick up the winner on that ground, but he learnt a lot.

"I told Sam if there was no pace in the race to let him bowl along and try and dictate from the front, because all he does is stay.

"He's no different to Al Ferof or Noland, he's got plenty of speed and I can see him in the Arkle next season."

Topofthegame (15-8) could prove well named after getting Nicholls and Twiston-Davies up and running for the afternoon when holding on by a short head in the Winning Post Bookmakers Bristol "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle.

Nicholls said: "He is as big a four-year-old as I've had for a while. He is 17 hands plus.

"He won his point-to-point beating one of Dan Skelton's No Hassle Hoff) and never came off the bridle.

"He sauntered to the front and just idled after the last. When Alan's (King) horse came at him he picked up again. He could be smart."

The smile on the face of Warren Greatrex told you all that was needed as to the regard he holds Western Ryder following his victory in the Neptune Investment Management Championship Standard National Hunt Flat Race.

Despite having more in front of him than behind turning for home, the 8-1 shot put his impressive engine to good use, claiming a two-length success and receiving a 25-1 quote for the Champion Bumper with Paddy Power.

Greatrex said: "He is a proper horse. He could be a bit of a star. He doesn't show a lot at home, but every now and then you get glimpses of what is there.

"He will stay in bumpers. Whether he goes to Cheltenham, I'm not sure. There are other places and I quite like Punchestown."

Sean Corby celebrated his first Ascot winner when getting home the Neil Mulholland-trained Kalondra (7-1) by a length in the Mitie Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, while the Suzy Smith-trained Red Devil Star (6-1) took the Stella Artois Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.