Paul Nicholls has two in this race, in the form of Pic D’Orhy and Hitman. Pic D’Orhy arrives here having won two novice grade two’s last year before winning at Newton Abbot, Huntingdon and Kempton heading into the Ascot Chase in February. He was 16 lengths behind Shishkin on the day to finish second in a strong race and was seven lengths ahead of Fakir D’Oudairies, who finished third.
Fakir D’Oudairies should run a better race here but this eight-year-old can run a big race to go close and it would be surprising if he didn’t do so.