Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Pic D’Orhy can triumph
PIC D’Orhy was perhaps not as impressive as expected on his seasonal bow at Ascot, but it is hard to argue against him in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton this afternoon.
Paul Nicholls has won three of the last four renewals of this extended two-and-a-half-mile test, including Pic D’Orhy’s 16-length romp last year.
He prevailed by the same distance on his return to action in the 1965 Chase at Ascot in November, when his task was eased significantly by Shishkin’s refusal to start. However,
Pic D’Orhy threatened to make hard work of it on the turn for home before his class prevailed.
He should be sharper for the outing and while Edwardstone and Banbridge are worthy adversaries, the conditions of the race favour the Ditcheat runner.
Impose Toi can continue on his rapid upward curve in the Lanzarote
Handicap Hurdle. Winner of three of his six hurdles spins for trainer Nicky Henderson, Impose Toi lost out by just a neck to his stablemate Luccia in a richly-endowed event at Ascot just before Christmas.
The fact he made mistakes at the last two obstacles hardly helped his chance and while a subsequent 3lb rise is not ideal, Impose Toi can defy the hike.
Another Henderson inmate, Mill Green, is the choice in the rearranged Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Warwick. The 12-year-old posted what was arguably a career best when finishing second to the reopposing Thomas Darby here in November, with the extra 4lb he gets this time good enough to turn around the verdict.
And Malina Girl can defy topweight in the feature Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase. She was an impressive ten-length winner at Cheltenham in November and still appeared to be travelling very well when coming down three fences from home back at Prestbury Park last month.