close up, ridden and disputed lead 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra thereafter
led, ridden 2 out, joined and headed before last, not fluent last, no extra run in
in rear, jumped left throughout, ridden and struggling at halfway, pulled up soon after
in rear, asked for effort 3 out, no extra from 2 out
mid-division, steady headway 2 out, led before last, kept on run in
mid-division, detached at halfway and pulled up
Unbeaten in four starts here, Dashel Drasher won the Grade 1 Ascot Chase over track and trip when last in action and beat Bennys King and MASTER TOMMYTUCKER (NAP) in the process. But he wasn’t at his best behind the latter at Haydock on last year’s reappearance and it could be the same story today given Paul Nicholls’ frontrunner has a recent pipe-opener over timber under his belt. Defi Du Seuil has struggled since winning a Grade 1 over a shorter trip here in 2020 and has undergone wind surgery along with Lostintranslation, who hasn’t figured since placing in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Pistol Whipped looks up against it on these terms though still has scope for improvement.
Dashel Drasher 4-1 (11-7) Led until mistake and headed 1st, chased leader, hit 6th and next, closer and upsides 8th, led approaching 12th, ridden between last 2, over 4 lengths ahead when jumped slowly last, idled badly and edged left run-in, always doing enough, won at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb beating Master Tommytucker (11-7) by 2l, 5 ran.
Master Tommytucker 9-2 (11-0) Led, ridden 2 out, headed before last, hung left and gradually faded, 5th of 8, 17l behind Indefatigable (10-7) at Wetherby 3m (1) gs in Oct.
Bennys King (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Held up and behind, steady headway out wide 13th, weakened 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Defi Du Seuil (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, held and switched right before 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 8, 16 3/4l behind First Flow (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Lostintranslation (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, lost place approaching 14th, well beaten from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Pistol Whipped (IRE) 5-1fav (11-12) Led after 1st, clear before 3 out until last, driven flat, headed last stride, 2nd of 18, shd behind Francky Du Berlais (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in May.
