2 minutes Fakir D’Oudairies is the bookies’ favourite for this year’s renewal and was back to winning ways in a Grade 2 at Thurles in January.
All roads lead to Cheltenham in March but before next month's four-day festival we have one more Grade 1 race to squeeze in to the National Hunt season. This Saturday, Fakir D'Oudairies is eyeing a second successive Betfair Ascot Chase win in what looks a very strong renewal of the 2m5f race. There are six entries confirmed for this year's Betfair Ascot Chase and here at betting.bet you'll find the latest odds and free bet offers courtesy of race sponsor, Betfair.
Fakir D'Oudairies is the bookies' favourite for this year's renewal and was back to winning ways in a Grade 2 at Thurles in January. French Dynamite and Chacun Pour Soi claimed the minor places at Thurles but were some way off the race winner.
The last Grade 1 run for Fakir D'Oudairies came in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in December where he placed second, 13 lengths behind Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite, Galopin Des Champs.
The interesting entry in the race is the Nicky Henderson-trained, Shishkin. The nine-year-old was a well-beaten third in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and now steps up in trip for his first run since undergoing wind surgery. Shishkin had put together a run of seven consecutive wins over fences prior to pulling up in last year's Queen Mother Champion Chase and was a three mile point-to-point winner in his younger days. If Shishkin handles the step up to 2m5f, he could be the best bet in the field on Saturday.
The third of a fairly evenly matched trio at the head of the betting is Pic D'Orhy. Paul Nicholls' eight-year-old pulled up at Aintree last April but is 3/3 since. Finished ahead of some decent opposition in those three wins and the four-time Grade 2 winner will be well-supported to land a first Grade 1. Trainer, Nicholls, is bullish about Pic D'Orhy's chances, claiming his jumping has improved this season, making him the “finished article” now.
Betfair Ascot Chase Odds
- Fakir D'Oudaries: 7/4
- Shishkin: 2/1
- Pic D'Orhy: 5/2
- Millers Bank: 11/1
- First Flow: 16/1
- Aye Right: 50/1
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