Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 5m 25.3s

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Selected odds by:

Ahoy Senor²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 163

4/1

One-time top-class chaser who took a step back in the right direction when fourth in Grade 2 Cotswold Chase (that he won in 2023) at Cheltenham (25.2f, good to soft) 3 weeks ago, his chance compromised no end by a serious tack problem. Prone to mistakes though, so likely he'll come up short.

Form: 1F2-PP4

L'Homme Presse²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 170| CD

5/4

Top-class chaser who impressively landed the Rehearsal Chase in November 2022. Second when unseated rider last in King George at Kempton the following month and after a year on the sidelines, made the perfect return at Lingfield (22f) last month. This should tee him up nicely for the Gold Cup.

Form: 113/1U-1

Pic D'Orhy^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 162| BF| CD

13/8

Only defeat in an excellent 2022/23 campaign came when unable to live with Shishkin in this corresponding race. Ended the season with a first Grade 1 success at Aintree and made a winning return in Grade 2 over C&D before pulling clear with Banbridge at Kempton (20.5f) 5 weeks ago. Stacks to like.

Form: 1121-12

Sail Away^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142

18/1

Made it to the racecourse just twice last season, latterly running his rivals ragged from the front in an 8-runner Ayr handicap (3m, good) in April. Beaten fair and square in 3 handicaps this term (latest a premier event) and will surely find this company all too much.

Form: 121-564

Forecasts

L'Homme Presse (5/4), Pic D'Orhy (13/8), Ahoy Senor (4/1), Sail Away (18/1)

A small but select field for this Grade 1 and it's L'HOMME PRESSE who gets the nod having made the perfect return from over a year on the sidelines in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield last month. He can add a third top-level success to an already glittering C.V. at the expense of Pic d'Orhy, who was back to his best when pulling clear with Banbridge in the Silviniaco Conti at Kempton 5 weeks ago and found only Shishkin too strong in last year's renewal.