Champion Chase goes to Paul Nicholls' Politologue as Defi Du Seuil off-target

Altior was withdrawn on Tuesday and Chacun Pour Soi taken out this morning, leaving what bookmakers and punters believed to be a penalty kick for Defi Du Seuil.

It proved to be third time lucky for Politologue as he landed the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase, the feature on day two of the Festival, for Paul Nicholls and jockey Harry Skelton.

It was one of the most anticipated races of the week, with Altior, Chacun Pour Soi, and Defi Du Seuil expected to provide an all-star cast for a clash of the ages, but, after two late defections, only the last-named made it to the tapes.