The 2m 5f Grade 1 Ascot Chase headlines Saturday’s card at that venue (15:35). On paper, this looks like a match between last year’s winner Cyrname and Riders Onthe Storm.
At odds of 3/1 on offer with Unibet, a chance is taken on the latter who has won both his starts since joining current trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Riders Onthe Storm is a seven-year-old Irish import that was a fine third to Hardline at this level in a novice chase at Limerick when in the care of Tom Taaffe.
He won next time up at Punchestown and was fancied by many for the Close Brothers at the Cheltenham Festival.
Nothing went right for Riders Onthe Storm in that ultra-competitive Listed novices’ handicap chase last March, though.
He was hampered at the third fence and clouted it as a result, before falling at the sixth.
Since being sold and joining Twiston-Davies, however, Riders Onthe Storm has got himself back on track. The form of his seasonal reappearance when winning an Aintree handicap is strong.
He scored by 1 3/4 lengths from Cepage – who has gone in at Grade 3 level on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham since.
The front pair pulled a further 12 lengths clear of Oldgrangewood, and that one has landed both subsequent starts.
Riders Onthe Storm has since followed-up impressively over the Ascot Chase course and distance.
The son of Scorpion travelled strongly throughout and very readily accounted for On The Blind Side by seven lengths in a graduation chase.
He was giving 7lb to the runner-up and had the others well strung out in-behind. Riders Onthe Storm is up 9lb from that to a mark of 162.
While that leaves him with plenty to find on Cyrname, he has scope for further progress.
Will King George effort leave its mark on Cyrname?
Cyrname is 13lb and upwards clear of his three rivals on official figures.
Although he is the highest rated steeplechaser in training, Paul Nicholls’ charge makes a defence of his Ascot Chase crown on the back of a defeat.
The eight-year-old didn’t get the trip of an easy 3m around Kempton in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
Stable companion Clan Des Obeaux lowered his colours and he trailed in a well-beaten 21 lengths behind.
However, Cyrname is three from three over course and distance and bolted up by 17 lengths in the Ascot Chase 12 months ago.
He jumped well and made all, and has since confirmed that form with the runner-up Waiting Patiently.
Cyrname also defeated Altior in the Grade 2 1965 Chase here on reappearance. The runner-up has since resumed winning ways with victory in the Game Spirit at Newbury.
On the pick of his form, which is all at this venue over this trip, Cyrname is a worthy favourite with bookmakers to bounce back.
He had a hard race in the King George though, and that is the concern. That outing over Christmas could have left its mark.
This Nickname gelding has been a beaten favourite five times before since joining Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard from France.
On this occasion, and because of cramped odds of 1/2 with 888Sport, Cyrname is opposed despite the fine current form of his trainer and jockey Harry Cobden.
Janika booked for third in Ascot Chase
Nicky Henderson’s Janika is closest on ratings to the favourite despite only winning one of his eight starts in Britain.
A French import brought to Seven Barrows by owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, this seven-year-old came with plenty of chasing experience.
Janika bumped into Siruh Du Lac in two graded handicaps at Cheltenham last season.
Prior to that, he shaped well enough on UK debut and his bow for Henderson when chasing home Hell’s Kitchen here over 2m 3f off top weight.
The son of Saddler Maker also ran a fine race under the welter burden when fourth to Cadmium in the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree.
These efforts left the impression there were races to be won with Janika.
That view was confirmed on reappearance when he landed the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup when he went down in trip at Exeter. Janika defied top weight here, beating Dolos by 2 1/4 lengths.
He has since finished fourth behind Defi Du Seuil in both the Tingle Creek at Sandown and Clarence House here over 2m.
Janika also had a spin over hurdles in-between those runs, filling the same spot behind subsequent Cleeve runner-up Summverille Boy in the Grade 2 Relkeel at Cheltenham.
This renewal of the Ascot Chase may have less depth in it than recent chase outings, but on that evidence the best he can hope for is third place.
Traffic Fluide is the oldest in the line-up at 10 and has tons to find on official figures.
Janika doesn’t have a progressive profile like Riders Onthe Storm or proven Grade 1 form like Cyrname, so he looks booked for third at odds of 10/1 with Boylesports here.
