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Pic D'Orhy will take on three rivals in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase on Saturday.
An eight-time winner over fences, Paul Nicholls will be hoping Pic D'Orhy can add to that tally by toppling L'Homme Presse in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase this weekend.
The ever-so-consistent nine-year-old bumped into Shishkin when filling the runner-up spot twelve months ago and although he has 8lb to find on official ratings with L'Homme Presse, Paul Nicholls believes his charge has what it takes to put it up to the odds-on favourite following a good preparation.
"He ran at Kempton 35 days ago which is the perfect time to take this race in, the same as last year. He worked this morning and we're very happy with him," said Nicholls when speaking on a media call organised by Ascot Racecourse.
Pic D'Orhy's seasonal reappearance task was made simpler with Shishkin refusing in the 1965 Chase in November and although he ran out a facile sixteen-length winner on that occasion, it was the form of his more recent second-place finish to Banbridge in the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton that impressed Nicholls.
He said: "He won at Ascot first up but probably wasn't at his best there and then arguably produced a career-best last time when giving 3lb to Banbridge. That was a really good run, he's in good form and runs to a consistent level.
"He's just a high-class horse who runs to a good level."
Venetia Williams' L'Homme Presse sets the standard on official ratings and arrives having defeated Protektorat on his return from the sidelines in the Fleur De Lys Chase at the Lingfield Winter Millions Meeting last month. Although Nicholls is certainly respectful of the task his contender faces at Ascot on Saturday, he was keen to stress the different path both horses are taking, with L'Homme Presse using this as something of a stepping stone en route to the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.
"It's a good race with L'Homme Presse in there but it'll be interesting. Obviously, he (L'Homme Presse) ran in some good races last season, he's a good horse and ran very well the other day at Lingfield off the back of having a setback. He's a smart horse but he only beat Protektorat the other day and he couldn't beat Hitman on Saturday in the Denman. So, you could look at the form and say perhaps he was flattered a little bit at Lingfield," said the Ditcheat handler.
He added: "Ultimately L'Homme Presse is out on the road to the Gold Cup, so he obviously stays very well but Ascot is a stiff two-mile five and the ground is not exactly going to be quick so stamina will probably come into it. This is the ideal trip for us though."
While both Pic D'Orhy and L'Homme Presse arrive following solid efforts this season, Ahoy Senor remains on something of a comeback mission having failed to really fire in three starts this campaign. After pulling-up on his first two outings of the season, Lucinda Russell's former Grade 1 winner did at least show more when fourth in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase, but Nicholls suggested the Ahoy Senor camp may be 'clutching at straws' as they drop the nine-year-old to below three miles for the first time since November 2021.
"I suppose they're clutching at straws a fraction. He's always looked like he's a stayer really. I'd have thought it would be a touch on the sharp side for him and he'll have to be jumping at his best," said Nicholls.
While Pic D'Orhy does hold an entry in the Ryanair at Cheltenham next month, a positive performance from the Johnny de la Hey-owned son of Turgeon on Saturday looks likely to set up a defence of his Melling Chase crown at Aintree in April.
"He'll probably go to Aintree after this for the race he won last year," Nicholls added. "I wouldn't have thought we'd go for the Ryanair, we're quite keen to do what we did last year. Aintree suits him well, so I suspect that's what we'll do."
It looks set to be a big weekend for Nicholls, as he attempts to stretch his lead over Nicky Henderson in the trainer's championship.
The Ditcheat-based handler will be hoping his unbeaten chaser Brave Kingdom can take the step up in grade in his stride in the Grade 2 Sodexho Live! Reynoldstown Novices' Chase earlier on the card.
Nicholls said: "Brave Kingdom has come good. He had problems and missed a lot of time, but he won well at Plumpton and then nicely at Newbury. Newbury was only a novices' handicap, and he has to progress again, but I am very happy with him."
Threeunderthrufive has been knocking on the door this season following runner-up finishes in valuable handicaps at Wincanton and Cheltenham.
"He's Mr Consistency," said Nicholls. "He's run two solid races this year for sure and I think going right-handed suits him slightly better. He's definitely got a good chance albeit he has to carry a big weight."
"He'll get the trip very nicely; he'll certainly be staying on strongly that's for sure."
