chased leaders, closed 3 out, not fluent and unable to quicken 2 out, rallied into 2nd last, kept on, no impression on winner
prominent until 4th, chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out
in rear, not fluent 7th, ridden and struggling before 9th, not fluent 10th or 12th, well beaten before 4 out
held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 2nd, closed from 11th, outpaced 4 out, not fluent and weakened 3 out
held up in rear on inside, outpaced after 12th, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
led 1st, ridden and headed before not fluent last, 3rd and no impression flat, kept on
led until not fluent 1st, chased leader, challenged 3 out, led before last, clear flat, ridden out
Pic D'Orhy finished seven lengths ahead of FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES when chasing home Shishkin in the Ascot Chase in February but the latter wasn’t given a particularly inspired ride that day. He’d got the better of French Dynamite in an incident-packed Grade 2 at Thurles previously and is fancied to land this for a third year running. Hitman was beaten more than five lengths when second in this last year but should be thereabouts again on his latest third in the Ryanair but Fugitif, Minella Drama and Millers Bank all have a bit to find at the weights.
Fakir D'Oudairies (FR) 7-4fav (11-10) 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, 3rd of 6, 23l behind Shishkin (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Feb.
French Dynamite (FR) 28-1 (11-10) Raced keenly early stages, mistake 6th, led before 2 out, soon headed, lost 2nd last, faded into 4th inside final 150 yards, 4th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Envoi Allen (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Fugitif (FR) 11-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, headway after 4 out, went 3/4 length 2nd last, no impression on winner final 150 yards, kept on, 2nd of 23, 2l behind Seddon (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Hitman (FR) 22-1 (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, mistake 11th, switched right and went 2nd last, no impression on winner run-in, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Envoi Allen (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Millers Bank 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, shaken up after 12th, lost touch before 3 out, never got on terms, 5th of 6, 26 1/4l behind Shishkin (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Feb.
Minella Drama (IRE) 10-11fav (12-0) Jumped slightly right at times, made all, clear 2 out, not fluent and reduced lead last, looked vulnerable briefly flat, found more and going away towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Feb beating Doyen Breed (10-10) by 4 1/4l, 3 ran.
Pic D'Orhy (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Close up, led 6th, not fluent 13th, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, kept on but well held by winner from before last, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Shishkin (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Feb.
