led narrowly, not fluent 6th and headed, remained prominent, lost position 11th and pushed along, beaten 3 out, plugged on
chased leaders on outside, shaken up after 4 out, pushed along and outpaced home turn, ridden and beaten after 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, raced keenly, hit 2nd, mistake and unseated rider 6th
tracked leaders, shaken up after 12th, lost touch before 3 out, never got on terms
close up, led 6th, not fluent 13th, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, kept on but well held by winner from before last
tracked leaders, jumped well, close 2nd after 11th, led narrowly 2 out and ridden, asserted before last, stayed on and drew away run-in, readily
Pic D'Orhy beat Millers Bank and First Flow in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon and followed up in the Grade 2 Silvinio Conti at Kempton five weeks ago. He seems to have got his act together now but faces a couple of proven Grade 1 performers in Shishkin and FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES. The latter won this last year and later took the Melling Chase at Aintree. He got back to winning ways at Thurles last month and has been primed for a repeat. Nicky Henderson’s charge, who beat Energumene and First Flow in the Clarence House here last season, had excuses when beaten on his reappearance in the Tingle Creek and has had wind surgery since but there is a question mark over whether he’ll stay this trip.
Aye Right (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Led after 1st, headed before 7th, joined leader briefly 15th, ridden before 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 4th of 11, 16l behind Into Overdrive (10-11) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Fakir D'Oudairies (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Settled behind leaders, 3rd halfway, niggled along to close after 4 out, ridden in 3rd 3 out, under pressure in 4th entering straight, stayed on in 3rd approaching last, left in lead last, kept on run-in, won at Thurles 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Jan beating French Dynamite (11-6) by 6l, 6 ran.
First Flow (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, hit 11th, pushed along home turn, ridden and no extra from before last, 3rd of 7, 7 1/2l behind Pic D'Orhy (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gd in Dec.
Millers Bank 40-1 (11-10) Off the pace in last pair, never a factor, 6th of 9, dist behind Bravemansgame (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Pic D'Orhy (FR) 6-4fav (11-8) Made all, mistake 4 out, came well clear next, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan beating Clondaw Castle (11-2) by 16l, 6 ran.
Shishkin (IRE) 6-5fav (11-10) Never seemed to travel that well, held up in last pair on inside, not fluent and hit 3rd, headway tracking leaders 5th, pushed along when went badly left and hit 3 out, no chance after but plugged on in well held 3rd, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Edwardstone (11-10) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
