Pic D’Orhy chasing another big Saturday success for Nicholls

PA Sport Reporters
January 13, 2023 2:19 pm

Peterborough Chase winner is already a course-and-distance scorer at Kempton.

Paul Nicholls looks to hold all the aces in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase as he seeks to win the Kempton contest for the third time.

The Ditcheat handler has been in unstoppable form of late and could add further big-race Saturday success with Pic D’Orhy who heads the betting for the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

The seven-year-old won the Pendil Novices’ Chase over course and distance last season and made it two from two for the current campaign when making all to land the Peterborough Chase in fine style at Huntingdon last month.

Pic D’orhy strikes in the Grade 2 @Fitzdares Peterborough Chase!
Good ride from the front from @CobdenHarry in the big race of the year at @Huntingdon_Race 👏 @PFNicholls 🏇 pic.twitter.com/kQbEwwQit7
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 4, 2022

“He wouldn’t want the ground going too soft, but he won the Peterborough as he liked last time, beating a sensible field at Huntingdon,” said the champion trainer’s stable jockey, Harry Cobden.

“I know he’s not the highest-rated horse in the world, but I think he’s still improving actually.

“He’s just turned eight and he’s got a bit of scope to improve.

“The betting has got it right on form – he’s got to be the one to beat, I think.”

Also representing the all-conquering Ditcheat team is Saint Calvados, who proved much too keen when making his first appearance for owner-rider David Maxwell in the two-runner Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase at Ascot in November.

David Maxwell will ride Saint Calvados in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (John Walton/PA)

“The hood will quieten him down and I imagine he’ll be less strong with a few more runners – he needs a bit of cover,” said Maxwell.

“He’s nice, but I must admit I was a bit surprised by how strong he was when I rode him at Ascot. This should suit him a bit better, he should get a decent pace and I think he’ll go well.

“I’m just going to steer round tucked in third or fourth and see how we go, but I think he’ll go well and obviously Paul’s horses are in great form.”

It was Coole Cody who denied Saint Calvados at Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival winner is once again raced in graded company by handler Evan Williams.

Legend! Coole Cody wins the Grade 2 Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase from Saint Calvados at @Ascot for @Adamkwedge and @EWilliamsRacing! pic.twitter.com/INIEWoUYD3
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 19, 2022

“It’s a very very competitive race, but I don’t want to run him in handicaps where he’s giving chunks of weight away,” said the Llancarfan-based handler.

“So we’ll just keep trying our best in these types of races and see how we get on. He’s a smashing old horse and he’s been brilliant.”

Fergal O’Brien’s Paint The Dream was an emphatic 14-length winner at Newbury when last sighted, a victory that makes him highest-rated runner in the field.

Tom George’s course winner Clondaw Castle was second in this contest two years ago and drops back in trip having failed to land a blow when swimming in deep waters in the Betfair Chase, while the six-strong line-up is rounded off by Angels Breath, who makes his stable debut for Sam Thomas following 1,121 days off the track.