Ascot headlines the Saturday action, with their feature being the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase, a 2m5f contest that has attracted a competitive field. In anticipation of what promises to be an unmissable contest, our editor has produced a runner-by-runner preview of the Ascot Chase, which comes alongside an exclusive Paddy Power new customer offer that provides £45 in free bets when you bet £10.
BETFAIR ASCOT CHASE (3:38pm Ascot, Saturday 19th February, 2m5f)
1. DASHEL DRASHER (Jeremy Scott, Rex Dingle) 6/1
Progressed from high-class handicapper to Grade 1 winner with victory in this race last season, holding off the ill-fated Master Tommytucker in a slow-motion finish. Has gained one win from three starts this season, that victory coming over hurdles at Newbury in December. Just a shorthead behind Two For Gold back chasing at Lingfield latest and that should have teed him up nicely in a bid to defend his Ascot Chase crown, yet this looks a far tougher assignment than 12 months ago and it’s best to look elsewhere.
2. FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES (Joseph O’Brien, Mark Walsh) 5/2
Top-class chaser who it’s easy to forget is still just a 7yo. Runner-up at the previous two Cheltenham Festivals yet deservedly got his head back in-front at this level with a dominant 11l victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree. That brought form figures when travelling over to Britain to an impressive 142221, and although comfortably held by Allaho the last twice there appear no rival of that ability in this line-up.
3. FANION D’ESTRUVAL (Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch) 9/2
Generally campaigned at Graded level ever since landing a Newbury handicap chase on stable debut back in November 2019, yet he appreciated the drop-in grade when going in back at Newbury on penultimate outing. Only nabbed late on over course and distance subsequently, when attempting to concede upwards of 10lb to his rivals. Worth his place back at Graded level, and his yard continues to send out a steady stream of big-race Saturday winners, so expect him to be bang there at the business end.
4. LOSTINTRANSLATION (Colin Tizzard, Brendan Powell) 12/1
Dual Grade 1 winner who rolled back the years to land the Grade 2 Pharma 1965 over course and distance in November, his first victory in almost two years. Failed to build on that showing when a distant fifth in the King George next time out, however, and although the return to Ascot could spark a revival, others come into this with a significantly greater scope for improvement.
5. MISTER FISHER (Nicky Henderson, James Bowen) 5/1
Landed the rescheduled Peterborough Chase at Cheltenham last season, that his third success at Grade 2 level. Added to that tally with victory in the Silviniaco Conti at Kempton last month, and that form received a notable boost last weekend thanks to the runner-up Eldorado Allen’s Newbury victory. Back up to the top level here though, with his form figures in Grade 1s reading 84PUP compared to 011121 at Grade 2 level. Has trip and track in his favour yet holding ground would be a big worry.
6. SAINT CALVADOS (Paul Nicholls, Harry Cobden) 9/2
16/1 runner-up of the 2020 Ryanair Chase, a clear career best on RPRs. Left the Harry Whittington stable last season and made a promising debut for Paul Nicholls when third in the King George, a run that could be upgraded as he made his challenge very early over a trip that stretches his stamina. Dropping back to 2m5f looks a big plus on that evidence, whilst he has also been freshened up since that Kempton run, so this looks a good opportunity for him.
7. TWO FOR GOLD (Kim Bailey, David Bass) 25/1
Admirable sort who took a 0-150 handicap chase at Doncaster on seasonal reappearance and supplemented that in the valuable Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield’s Winter Million Meeting. That brought his career record to an impressive 10 wins from 19 starts, yet he was only a shorthead in front of Dashel Drasher last time and now meets that rival on 6lb worse terms, whilst 2m5f on a track like this could see him tapped for a bit of toe.
8. WAITING PATIENTLY (Christian Williams, Jack Tudor) 25/1
Popular chaser for the Ruth Jefferson stable, taking this race in 2018, holding off the likes of Cue Card and Frodon. Failed to add to that in his next seven starts for that yard, however, when tried over a variety of trips. Now in the care of Christian Williams, yet he failed to complete in the Betfair Chase on stable debut and as an 11yo who’s now four years without a win its best to look elsewhere.
BIG RACE VERDICT
Last year’s winner Dashel Drasher has likely been trained with this race in mind but this looks a good bit stronger than the 2021 renewal and he can be opposed. Fanion D’Estruval has a similar profile to the one Dashel Drasher had 12 months ago and represents a yard in flying form, but he could just be found wanting at this level, with SAINT CALVADOS put forward as the horse to beat him. This 9yo was beaten just a neck into second in the 2020 Ryanair when ahead of the likes of A Plus Tard and Frodon, and he showed that he still had plenty of aptitude for this game when third in the King George on debut for the Paul Nicholls stable. Dropping back to 2m5f looks a huge plus on that evidence and he has been freshened up since that Kempton run so will have no excuses. Irish raider Fakir D’oudairies is the clear danger on form and figures and will undoubtedly run his race, albeit he does have the profile of a horse that often bumps into one.
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