Paul Nicholls needs Pic D’Orhy at his peak as the Harry Cobden-ridden nine-year-old attempts to win Silviniaco Conti Chase for second year running
- Saturday’s race is considerably tougher than last year’s Pic D’Orhy
- The nine-year-old ridden by Harry Cobden won the 1965 Chase at Ascot in November
- Edwardstone races two and a half miles over fences for the first time
Paul Nicholls expects a sharper performance from Pic D’Orhy at Kempton on Saturday afternoon as he attempts to win the Silviniaco Conti Chase for the second year in a row.
The Harry Cobden-ridden nine-year-old won the 1965 Chase at Ascot in November, but what should have been a simple task after main rival Shishkin refused to race turned into an arduous effort against inferior rivals with his jump lacking sharpness.
Saturday’s race is considerably tougher than last year’s Pic D’Orhy, with opposition led by the Alan King-trained Edwardstone, who is racing two and a half miles over fences for the first time – something he is apparently clamoring for.
But Pic D’Orhy is two wins from two runs on a track that suits him.
Nicholls said: “The Ascot race was a bit of a non-event. He finally got the job done and idled a bit, but he didn’t jump as well as he could. He is a big horse and he probably wants a little more in the ground now than he got that day (when the description was still good).
Trainer Paul Nicholls expects a sharper performance from Pic D’Orhy (above) at Kempton
“He’s in good shape and I’ve had this race in mind for him for a while. We know flat circuits like Kempton and Aintree suit him, but this is a stronger race than when he won it last year.”
Pic D’Orhy has an entry in Cheltenham’s Ryanair Chase, but is unlikely to include it. His more likely target is Aintree’s Marsh Chase – which he also won last season – via next month’s Betfair Ascot Chase.
But the Ryanair Chase will be very much in Edwardstone’s sights if he can prove himself at the new distance.
Joseph O’Brien’s Irish raider Banbridge, competing for the first time since winning the Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, is undoubtedly setting the standard, while the Willie Mullins-trained Janadil is also a Grade One winner.
The line-up is completed by the Laura Morgan-trained Notlongtillmay, runner-up to the Nicholls-trained Stage Star in both the Turners Novices’ Chase at the 2023 Festival and the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November.