PIC D’ORHY is fancied to prove he can cut it at the highest level with a win in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase (3.35) this afternoon.
The Paul Nicholls-saddled eight-year-old has come up short in his five previous attempts in the top tier – a marked contrast to rivals Fakir D’Oudairies and Shishkin, who have eight Grade 1 triumphs between them.
But Nicholls, who has four Ascot Chase successes on his CV, describes Pic D’Orhy as “twice the horse he was last season” – and that opinion is borne out by the bay’s feats on the track.
Having made the perfect return in a graduation chase at Newton Abbot in October, Harry Cobden’s mount held Millers Bank by two lengths in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon three weeks before Christmas.
And my selection put up a personal best to carry a penalty to a 16-length supremacy in the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton Park last month.
His form this term speaks of a horse ready to realise his potential – and Pic D’Orhy can continue his upward curve with a landmark victory.
QUICK WAVE gets the vote to return to winning ways in the Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (2.40) at Haydock Park.
Venetia Williams’ mare hasn’t been an easy horse to get to the track in recent times, being limited to just one start last season.
But that resulted in a convincing victory at Ludlow in January of last year and Quick Wave returned from 327 days off the track to give a command performance in the London National on Sandown Park’s Tingle Creek Chase undercard at the start of December.
Sauntering along on the bridle, Charlie Deutsch’s mount hit the front at the Pond Fence three from home and extended four lengths clear of Planned Paradise.
Quick Wave didn’t reproduce that form under a 4lb penalty as the 4-1 market leader for the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow 24 days later, pulling up behind The Two Amigos .
That run is best forgotten – the relatively quick return to action is the most likely explanation for the 10-year-old’s flop, but my selection was also hampered by a faller as the race was warming up – and Quick Wave can show her true colours.
After a successful return to the smaller obstacles at Huntingdon last month, ITCHY FEET is fancied to negotiate the step up in class for the Grade 2 Betfred Rendlesham Hurdle (2.05).
The length-and-a-quarter margin from The Changing Man came in handicap company, but Olly Murphy’s stable stalwart scored at the top level before losing his way over fences and still has unfinished business in this sphere.
At Ascot, Quick Wave’s stable-companion DJELO has plenty going for him in the Ascot Racecourse Supports Box4Kids Handicap Hurdle (3.00).
The five-year-old was beaten at odds of 1-3 at Haydock two starts ago but a staying-on third over two miles at Sandown last time out was more like it, and the extra yardage here will help.
The LK Bennett Swinley Handicap Chase (2.25) looks wide open, but PHOENIX WAY looks primed to give a good account.
Harry Fry’s son of Stowaway bagged a big prize over three furlongs shorter here in January 2022 and is now back down to the same British Horseracing Authority mark of 140.
Since joining Nicky Henderson, BOLD ENDEAVOUR has collected in handicap company over fences at Leicester and Doncaster, and the hat-trick beckons in the Grade 2 Bateaux London Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (1.50).
He wasn’t at his best over further and on softer terrain at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, but conditions should be more suitable for the Paul Nicholls-saddled KNAPPERS HILL in the Grade 2 Wincanton Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle (3.12).
SATURDAY TIPS
LINGFIELD PARK
1.03 LOST IN TIME (NAP)
1.38 FLOATING SPIRIT
2.13 DAPHNE MAY
2.48 ARAMIS GREY
3.23 WITCH HUNTER
3.58 CRYSTAL DELIGHT
4.33 STRIKE ALLIANCE
ASCOT
1.20 PERSIAN TIME
1.50 BOLD ENDEAVOUR
2.25 PHOENIX WAY
3.00 DJELO
3.35 PIC D’ORHY
4.10 YES NO MAYBE SO
4.45 GOLDEN ACE
HAYDOCK PARK
1.30 BO ZENITH
2.05 ITCHY FEET (NB)
2.40 QUICK WAVE
3.18 JERRASH
3.50 GOLDEN WHISKY
4.25 MR VANGO
5.00 BENNYS KING
GOWRAN PARK
1.42 SINBAD LE MARIN
2.17 SHARJAH
2.52 SLANE HILL
3.27 HAUT EN COULEURS
4.02 GRANDERO BELLO
4.37 HURRICANE DARWIN
5.12 IRIS EMERY
WINCANTON
1.57 EARTH CRY
2.32 KAUTO THE KING
3.12 KNAPPERS HILL
3.42 EDE’IFFS ELTON
4.17 SEELOTMOREBUSINESS
4.50 BEYOND REDEMPTION
5.20 HITITI
NEWCASTLE
4.55 RUSSIAN VIRTUE
5.30 LADY BIANCA
6.00 CHIEF’S WILL
6.30 QUEEN REGENT
7.00 ADEB
7.30 CALIN’S LAD
8.00 PRIMO
SUNDAY TIPS
PUNCHESTOWN
1.10 HARDLINE
1.40 WILD HUNT
2.10 ANGELS DAW
2.40 HARMONYA MAKER
3.10 QUIRKE’S GATE
3.45 VERDANT PLACE
4.20 BALLYBURN
4.55 SCARAMANGA
NEWBURY
1.30 QUICK DRAW
2.00 MORTLACH
2.30 DIAMOND EGG
3.00 TINTINTIN
3.35 MALINA JAMILA
4.10 TRAPISTA
4.45 IOLAOS DU MOU
MUSSELBURGH
1.50 BENTS HOLLOW
2.20 DR SHIROCCO
2.50 HEROS DE MOUTIERS
3.20 METHODTOTHEMADNESS (NAP)
3.55 LOCK DOWN LUKE (NB)
4.30 DUTY CALLS
