February 18 / 15.35 Ascot

15.35

Good

Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £99662.5
  • 2m 5f 8y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: /11P-3 C BF

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 174

Form & Verdict
Has been a powerhouse at 2m and collared Energumene near the line in that epic clash for the 2022 Clarence House here; subsequent flops in the Champion Chase and Tingle Creek can be excused due to physical issues; had a second wind surgery since latest defeat and now goes in tongue-tie; shapes as if this new trip is well worth exploring, while other factors bolster that point (3m point winner; has stamina in pedigree); the likeliest winner granted a return to form (has comfortably the best chance on peak ratings).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

11th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Shishkin

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Won this last year (good to soft); refused to race on reappearance (his sole outing in cheekpieces); may well have won the Grade 1 King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December but for stumbling/unseating just after two out; ready Grade 2 win at Newbury (2m7f, heavy) in February; didn't run in last month's Gold Cup due to an unsatisfactory scope and there remains a question mark regarding the form of the stable, but he's a key player if at his best.

5/2

4th

6

11th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Shishkin

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Won this last year (good to soft); refused to race on reappearance (his sole outing in cheekpieces); may well have won the Grade 1 King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December but for stumbling/unseating just after two out; ready Grade 2 win at Newbury (2m7f, heavy) in February; didn't run in last month's Gold Cup due to an unsatisfactory scope and there remains a question mark regarding the form of the stable, but he's a key player if at his best.

5/2

1st

2

10th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 1

14:05 Newbury

Shishkin

11st 8lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

jumped left on occasions, raced in second, not fluent 3rd, not fluent 13th, pressed leader after 4 out, led 3 out, soon faced challenge, not fluent last, ridden and kept on well run-in

4/6

11/4

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 1P-111 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
Good novice chaser last term; three from three this season, including all-the way wins in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon (2m4f, good; beat Millers Bank by 2l) and Silviniaco Conti at Kempton (2m4f, soft; won by 16l); this four-time Grade 2 scorer is currently better than ever and could well improve further the way he's going; big player back at the top level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

11yo who looked as good as ever when runner-up in a captivating battle with Jonbon in the Ascot Chase (2m5f, good to soft) in February, when bidding to win that Grade 1 for the third consecutive year; won the Grade 1 Melling Chase here (2m4f, soft) in 2023; seemed fine at 3m when 1l second in this season's Charlie Hall (good) and his trainer has won this race six times; no surprise to see a bold bid from this front-runner, who is not ruled out.

14/1

2nd

6

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart front-runner whose record of 5-9 over fences at Ascot features emphatic wins in this race for the last two years (good/good to soft; has scored on soft); had excuses (soon taken on for lead, race possibly came too soon after reappearance) over C&D in November when last seen, failing to land the 1965 Chase for a third time; perhaps best caught fresh nowadays and, assuming he's able to dominate, commands respect in another hat-trick attempt.

7/4

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Multiple Grade 2 chase winner who has also won three Grade 1s (good-soft), the latest being the 2m5f Ascot Chase in February; this 10yo is unproven beyond that trip and unraced over 3m, but there's every chance he'll stay and he goes well fresh; key player under 6lb penalty if seeing it out.

9/2

Form: 11-521 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 164

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism, albeit fortuitously having been left in the lead when the likely winner took a final-fence fall, in Grade 2 at Thurles (2m4f, yielding) last month; well capable of smarter form and has four Grade 1 wins on his CV, including this race 12 months ago (followed up at Aintree); commands major respect in his bid to become the fifth dual winner of the Ascot Chase this century.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Fakir Doudairies

10st 13lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: E Bolger

Four-time Grade 1 winner back in the day, but not the same force nowadays; has been running in cross-country chases lately, sixth at Cheltenham and second over 3m at Punchestown; trainer is a wizard with these types, but unlikely to feature all the same.

12/1

2nd

14

2nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Fakir Doudairies

11st 7lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: E Bolger

Four-time Grade 1 chase winner (peaked at 167) for Joseph O'Brien but left yard after a disappointing cross-country debut in December 2024; just okay efforts back on cross-country circuit this term, most recently poor effort back over conventional fences at Wexford last month; hard to assess right now.

12/1

14th

1

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:38 Wexford

Fakir Doudairies

11st 12lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: E Bolger

Four-time Grade 1 chase winner (peaked at 167) for Joseph O'Brien but left yard after a disappointing cross-country debut in December 2024; just okay efforts back on cross-country circuit of late, at Punchestown and when not looking to stay 3m6f at Cheltenham last month; back over the conventional fences here and hard to assess (trip/ground to suit) but handicapper giving him every chance.

15/2

Form: 39-2P4 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Won the Rehearsal and ran respectably in the Cotswold Chase last season; peak effort this term when second to notable rival in Kelso handicap in October; faces a stiffer task on these terms and has something to prove back down in trip (most of his chase form is at 2m7f+).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

2nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

15:25 Kelso

Aye Right

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

led, headed before 6th

3/1

2nd

3

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Warwick

Aye Right

11st 11lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

Agonisingly missed out in a leg of this series when tying up close home at Chepstow in October (collared by Good Boy Bobby); there are some course concerns as he wasn't so good when behind Thomas Darby and Mill Green here last time but he's still respected off the same mark as at Chepstow and new partner Dylan Johnston is good value for his 7lb; handles all ground.

13/2

Form: -5U226

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Grade 1 novice winner at Aintree last April; soundly beaten in the King George most recently (had a third wind surgery since); has finished a good second behind Pic D'Orhy on two occasions, including in this season's Peterborough Chase, and he's not out of it on those pieces of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

16th Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

14:45 Kempton

Millers Bank

12st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Well-held last of three runners over hurdles on sole outing this term; had wind surgery (his fourth) since; very useful chaser on his day and bagged Grade 1 honours over 2m4f at Aintree (as a novice) two years ago; possibilities off this mark, provided he's back on song.

9/1

3rd

2

11th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Aintree

Millers Bank

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Highly tried and lost his way over fences last season after two good seconds over this trip before Christmas; now reverts to hurdling and he's certainly interesting on his third in the 2021 Aintree Hurdle, while a 10l win in the 2022 Manifesto Novices' Chase (again 2m4f, good to soft) underlines his liking for this course; carries risks but not ruled out by any means.

100/30

Form: /613-3 C

Last run: 76 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Won the Clarence House here in 2021 when he was on a roll at about 2m; bagged last season's Peterborough Chase over an easy 2m4f but he was behind Pic D'Orhy and Millers Bank in same race this term (his last appearance); the 11yo has stamina to prove over this stiff 2m5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

21st Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Lingfield

First Flow

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

A longer trip may be preferable but he was a good second off this mark at Ascot (2m1f, soft) in November on his reappearance, and filled the same position at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) last time; also effective on good/good to soft; this highly admirable 12yo can give another good account.

6/1

3

27th Dec 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Kempton

First Flow

11st 11lb

T: Kim Bailey

2nd

1

27th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

13:05 Chepstow

First Flow

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

prominent, led 3rd, headed after 3 out, kept on final 110yds

9/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.40
Straight Forecast £8.02
Trifecta £14.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fakir D'oudairies

RP Ratings:

Shishkin

WEST COUNTRY:

Pic D'Orhy

POSTDATA:

Fakir D'oudairies

The Times:

Fakir D'oudairies

The Guardian:

Fakir D'oudairies

Daily Mail:

Fakir D'oudairies

Daily Record:

Fakir D'oudairies

TOPSPEED:

Shishkin

LAMBOURN:

Shishkin

Telegraph:

Shishkin

D Express:

Shishkin

Daily Mirror:

Pic D'Orhy

The Star:

Pic D'Orhy