A small but stellar field will be declared for the Ascot Chase on Saturday and it promises to be a cracking renewal, with last year’s winner Pic D’Orhy facing off against L’Homme Presse and some other top horses in the line-up.
The Ascot Chase: 5 Memorable Grade 1 Winners
There have been some famous winners of the 2m5f Grade One showpiece. Cue Card was a grand servant in the race, winning in 2013 and 2017, but also falling on his sword when second to an in-form Waiting Patiently in 2018. Patiently himself, was arguably not to land back-to-back renewals when left trailing behind the front-running Cyrname 12 months later. Below are five of the best to have won the G1 contest:
Ascot Chase Winners: Cue Card
Arguably the greatest of them all was the Colin Tizzard-trained Cue Card, who won the race twice, showing true class to claim victories four years apart, firstly in 2013 before finding his magic again in 2017.
The incredible servant to connections struck in 2017 at the age of 11, making short work of Coneygree in what was a very strong renewal on paper. That was his 11th and final Grade 1 victory and he’s a true legend of the race.
Ascot Chase Winners: Silviniaco Conti
He could never find his best form at Cheltenham which is probably why he doesn’t get the status he deserves, but away from Prestbury Park Silviniaco Conti was an absolute machine.
Sent off a 2/1 chance for this race in 2016, he tried to follow in the footsteps of Denman and Kauto Star for Paul Nicholls and that’s why many probably saw him as an underachiever, but he landed his seventh Grade 1 here to add to his pair of King George wins, Betfair Chases and Aintree Bowls. His great strength was his jumping and when he was on song he wasn’t for catching, proven by his 20-length demolition job in this contest.
Ascot Chase Winners: Riverside Theatre
Another dual winner of the Ascot Chase was Riverside Theatre, winning it back-to-back in 2011 and 2012. What made the 2012 victory so special was the fact he had not seen a racetrack since bolting up in the race 12 months prior. As we have often seen from Nicky Henderson, he is a master at getting a top horse back to full fitness after a lengthy absence and his charge had to sit on the sidelines for a good period of time due to a pelvic fracture. Strong in the betting and sent off as favourite for the race again in 2012, he got the better of Medermit in the closing stages.
Ascot Chase Winners: Kauto Star
Incredibly, the legend that is Kauto Star only graced Ascot once in his career and that was when landing the Ascot Chase in 2008. Sent off a strong 4/11 favourite, he was too good for Monet’s Garden on the day and it was another Grade 1 to add to his full cabinet of trophies. He went on to finish runner-up to Denman in the Gold Cup soon after.
Ascot Chase Winners: Strong Promise
One of the surprise winners who was sent off at odds of 10/1 in a four-runner Ascot Chase in 1997, Strong Promise deserves a strong mention. He got the better of Tingle Creek winner Sound Man and big favourite One Man on the day and it was a race for the ages.
By Adrian Mills
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