Ascot Chase Guide 2021

The eight year old started last season perfectly by ending the mighty Altior's 19 race unbeaten run in the Grade Two 1965 Christy Chase which saw the Paul Nicholls' star raised to a new rating of 178 after his performance in a first-time Grade One field, which has only been bettered by seven horses since the turn of the century.

After that he was a disappointing second in the King George when not staying the trip and having fell when the strong favourite to land back to back renewals of the Ascot Chase, with Nicholls lucky to see him back for another season.

The Son of Nickname although falling would not have won the contest having dropped back through the small field near the finish and overall did not show the true Cyrname at his home track.

After the heavy fall, many punters were wondering how he would return this term, but on his seasonal bow he put all those questions to bed when winning the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase in fine style.

However, it was one step forward and then two steps back as he headed into the King George VI Chase in December for the second year running with a live chance and again he underperformed.

He was pulled by Harry Cobden that day, but the rider must still believe he can get back to his star ability by choosing him in this race over stablemate Master Tommytucker.

Having been a horse with bundles of potential but never really showing it, this term he seems to have turned over a new leaf and his jumping has improved massively.

Although winning on his seasonal debut last term, he then went on to fall twice in a row, with many thinking his potential was short lived.

However, he made his return this season at Newton Abbott and jumped much better to finish a good second behind Al Dancer.

From there he has really kicked on landing back to back races with superb jumping displays, especially two starts ago at Haydock when winning a good Graduation Chase by 15 lengths.

Nicholls decided to send him to Cheltenham in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and off top weight was underwhelming, finishing seventh.

He put things right last time out when winning the Grade Two Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton, albeit the favourite Imperial Aura falling at the first.

It was still a superb performance, but he still has question marks over his jumping and he will need a career best performance to win this, with jockey Daryl Jacob taking the ride for the first time.

Not many people would have thought that the Jeremy Scott trained Dashel Drasher would be appearing in this Grade One event having been a sensational handicapper, but he warrants respect off the back of his Ascot record.

During his career the eight year old has raced three times at Ascot, once over 2m3f and the last twice over 2m5f and he is currently representing a 100% strike rate at the track.

He has always been a smart horse over this distance, running well in defeat in Novices' events last season, but this term has shown superb winning form in handicaps.

Having finished third at Haydock behind Master Tommytucker on seasonal debut he has since gone on to land to back to back races at Ascot over course and distance.

His latest win saw him see off rival Bennys King who he takes on again Saturday.

Winning handicaps is very different to winning a Grade One and he will have to better the peak of his form to go close.

Bennys King for the inform Skelton yard are taking a chance pitching this handicapper into Grade One company, but off the back of his recent form at the track and the event being one of the weakest for sometime, they believe he can run a cracker.

The 10 year old has been a seasoned handicapper for the last few season and this term has shown good form in the majority of his events.

Having needed his seasonal debut at Aintree, he then came to Ascot over 2m3f in December and landed a handicap chase that saw the form franked with third placed Smarty Wild winning next time out.

Last time out he headed back to Ascot upped to today's trip and was a good second behind Dashel Drasher conceding weight.

Like his rival he will have to be much better pitched into this company, but his recent form suggests he is still progressing.

Riders Onthe Storm for Nigel Twiston-Davies like Master Tommytucker is a horse that has promised a lot but only on occasions has shown his quality.

It took until last season for him to fully break out of his shell going on to land a hat-trick of wins starting at Aintree in a Handicap Chase and then twice at Ascot.

His first win at Ascot came in a Graduation Chase, but after that stepped up to the Grade One Ascot Chase and saw off the likes of Cyrname and Janika to take the event.

Spirits were high heading to Cheltenham in March for the Ryanair Chase but he fell when making his challenge and has not recovered from that yet.

He has only been seen once this season making his seasonal debut at Cheltenham in the Shloer Chase over two miles and he was outclassed by Put The Kettle On and Duc Des Genievres.

Last time out he went to Cheltenham for the Grade Two Silviniaco Conti Chase and finished third of the four runner, being the last horse to finish.

He was swept aside by Master Tommytucker and although winning this race last year it is hard to see him reversing the form and he looks like a horse with no enthusiasm for the game.