Flagship Uberalles has climbed his way back to clear ascendancy in the official two-mile charts, it was revealed today.
His stunning victory in the Doubleprint Tingle Creek Chase last Saturday at Cheltenham has seen him pushed up 4lb to 173 in the British Horseracing Board ratings.
But the six-year-old, transferred to Noel Chance from Paul Nicholls, will have to improve again if he steps up to three miles and takes on See More Business in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton.
See More Business, the favourite to win the Boxing Day feature for the second year running, is still reckoned to have 4lb in hand of his former stablemate.
Flagship Uberalles was pulled up in each of his last two races last season after failing to justify favouritism in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
But he ran as well as he has ever done when thumping Fadalko by 11 lengths at Cheltenham last weekend, according to the BHB handicapper Phil Smith.
The rating of 173 that he achieved equals the mark he was given when runner-up in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot in January.
'It was great to see Flagship Uberalles come back to his best,' said Smith.
'But whether he should now go on and take on See More Business at Kempton is not a question for me to answer _ that`s up to the connections.
'Flagship Uberalles was dropped 4lb after running below his best at the end of the last season.
'But now he`s back on his highest mark and this makes him pre-eminent among two-mile chasers.
'There may be something for the theory that he is better on soft ground but I will say there is nothing to choose between his form on good to soft and good ground.'
Smith is confident the form of Saturday`s fast-run race will stand up to the closest inspection.
'In my view in a championship contest if the race is a true one the best horse wins and the horse Flagship Uberalles beat, Fadalko, is a solid yardstick,' he said.
Smith is already eagerly looking ahead to the next renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Flagship Uberalles has a score to settle, having finished behind Edredon Bleu and Direct Route in last March`s Cheltenham showpiece.
'Using Fadalko as a guide Edredon Bleu appears to have improved again this season and he`s now on a mark of 168 so he will be a tough opponent again,' said Smith.
Direct Route, a below-par fifth in the Tingle Creek, should not be forgotten while the progressive Fadalko (161) only needs to find a little more improvement to come into the reckoning, according to the handicapper.
