DEFENDING champ Dashel Drasher will bid to win back-to-back Ascot Chases on Saturday.
The tough chaser, described as “relentless” by trainer Jeremy Scott, heads a star-studded field for the big Grade 1 feature.
The nine-year-old was a popular winner of the £150,000 contest last winter.
He gave journeyman jockey Matt Griffiths a first ever Grade 1 winner, while it was Scott’s first top-flight success in eight years.
He won nicely over hurdles at Newbury earlier in the winter before an agonising second in Lingfield’s Fleur de Lys Chase last month.
Scott reckons the horse has come out of that big race in flying form, and he expects a big run on his return to his beloved Ascot.
Scott said: “Dashel Drasher seemed to love Ascot last year. I think on paper this year’s race looks much more competitive, but fortunately the rain has come and the more rain the better I would say.
“Dashel Drasher is such a tenacious horse and I think that is what captures people’s imagination or admiration.
“It took a little while to find the key to him, but once we worked out that we could bowl along at his pace rather than the pace of every other horse, we found that he can put them under pressure and that is what seems to win him his races.
“He has a slightly awkward way of going, but he is quite relentless once he gets into his stride. He has a very good cruising speed and can stick at it for quite a long time.”
Meanwhile, champion trainer Paul Nicholls is hoping his yard can regain some form courtesy of King George third Saint Calvados.
Nicholls said: “Saint Calvados ran a fine race in the King George, where he got involved at the sharp end sooner than ideal, led four from home and paid the price late on as he got tired.
“I also felt he just needed the race that day and would improve for it.
“A reproduction of that run over this shorter trip should see him being very competitive at Ascot on soft ground, which he seems to enjoy.”
Irish raider Fakir D’Oudaries heads the betting at 5-2 with Paddy Power, with Saint Calvados next best at 4-1 ahead of Dashel Drasher (9-2) and Fanion D’Estruval (9-2).
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