Racecards
13:30 Ascot
Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 8y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £70,000 added
- Winner: £39,865
- 2nd: £14,959
- 3rd: £7,490
- 4th: £3,731
- Form P/11121-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 162
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
raced wide, tracked leader, joined leader 6th, led 10th, 4 lengths clear when not fluent 2 out, ridden and ran on
- Form 1P/3121-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 173
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
reluctant to line up, whipped round start, refused to race
- Form 43113-2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Theo Gillard
led, joined 6th, headed 10th, tracked winner until 4 out, weakened 2 out, tired jump next
Straw Fan Jack
226- Form 7/11444-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer Sheila Lewis
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
tracked leaders, pushed along 12th, ridden to press winner next, weakened approaching 2 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Pic D‘Orhy was only beaten once in five starts last season but that defeat came over course and distance in February when 16 lengths behind today’s rival SHISHKIN. Nicky Henderson’s top-class chaser than went on to finish an unlucky second in the Ryanair at Cheltenham before landing the Aintree Bowl and he should make a winning reappearance if fully wound-up. Minella Drama was beaten seven lengths by Pic D‘Orhy in the Melling Chase at Aintree in April while Straw Fan Jack’s best form is over shorter trips but he’ll pick up some decent prize money if he completes.
Formwatch
Pic D'Orhy (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Led until not fluent 1st, chased leader, challenged 3 out, led before last, clear flat, ridden out, won at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr beating Fakir D'Oudairies (11-10) by 4 1/4l, 7 ran.
Shishkin (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd 11th until before 4 out, went 2nd again 3 out, driven and 6 lengths down after 2 out, closed last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr beating Ahoy Senor (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Minella Drama (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Close up, led 8th, pushed along bypassing usual 2 out, soon ridden, headed run-in, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Jetoile (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Oct.
Straw Fan Jack 28-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, niggled along briefly 6th, effort after 12th, outpaced before 3 out, blundered 2 out, well held before last, went 4th flat, 4th of 5, 12 1/4l behind Banbridge (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.