Betfair Ascot Chase: the key players on their Grade 1 chances in the big race

Saturday: 3.38 Ascot
Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1) | 2m5f | 5yo+ | ITV/Sky

Storm Eunice meant James Potter was grounded in London on Friday, but he is hoping Mister Fisher, whom connections have long thought capable of delivering at the highest level, can take off.

Daniel Craig once sat in Potter's previous helicopter for a scene in a James Bond film, but the recycling supremo's current chopper could not make the journey from his Welshpool base, resulting in an extra night in the capital before he heads to Ascot on Saturday.

Once there, Potter, wife Jean and family will be cheering on the Nicky Henderson-trained Mister Fisher, a classy sort who was at his best when winning Kempton's Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase last time.

"He blew up two and half furlongs out in the King George and Sean Bowen looked after him," Potter said. "This will take a lot of winning tomorrow and he's a good horse.

"Nicky says he's well and hopefully the wind dries the ground and he does the business. He ran well at Kempton last time and that form has been franked as he beat a Haldon Gold Cup winner in Eldorado Allen, who's since won the Denman Chase.

Owner James Potter with Mister FisherCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'm never bullish. You've got the wrong man for that, but he's still only a relatively young horse. I've probably been in ownership 35 years and never won a Grade 1. We've won lots of things, including the Welsh National, but this would mean a lot and it's exciting to be in it."

Tiutchev and Riverside Theatre (twice) won the Ascot Chase for Henderson, who said: "This has been marked in his calendar all along, especially since his win at Kempton last month. My only worry is the soft ground – I've never been happier with him, he's in tip-top form.

"I've always had a lot of time for him, but see him as more of a good-ground horse and he won the Peterborough Chase last season and the Silviniaco Conti this season, so he's got his Grade 2s. You could hardly say he's far off being a Grade 1 horse, and it's an open race."

Top-level chance for Tudor

James Bowen, who rides Mister Fisher, is not the only Welsh pony-riding sensation participating in the Ascot Chase as Jack Tudor has his first Grade 1 mount on Waiting Patiently.

Like Bowen, the 19-year-old has won a Welsh Grand National (Potters Corner in 2019) and Christian Williams, who trains Waiting Patiently for Richard Collins, is delighted his protege has a top-flight chance.

Jack Tudor: trainer Christian Williams has been purring about the young riderCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "It's Jack's first Grade 1 and it's worked out Brian Hughes was going to Haydock, and the owner is a good, fair man, who said he'd be pleased to have Jack on, which was great.

"I've known him since he was a child and he's very cool for his age. From that young age, he's always had a very good mind and rides far and above the experience he's got. He's an old head on young shoulders and a special talent.

"He's got a brilliant mind, which is one of the main attributes of any sport. He's improving all the time and he might have made little mistakes when he was young, but they were rectified on his next ride. He'd learn so quickly."

Waiting Patiently won the Ascot Chase four years ago, but was pulled up on his first start for Williams in the Betfair Chase three months ago.

"He seems well but it looks very competitive," the trainer added. "It's great to be involved and the ground and track suit the horse. I try not to look back too much [at Haydock] and we'll keep marching on and look forward to Ascot now."

What they say

Jeremy Scott, trainer of Dashel Drasher
He seemed to love Ascot last year, but this year's race looks more competitive. Fortunately, the rain has come. He is such a tenacious horse and I think that is what captures people’s imagination. It took a little while to find the key to him but once we worked out we could bowl along at his pace, we found he can put them under pressure. 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.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Fakir D'Oudairies
It looks a very good chance for him to be competitive in Grade 1 company. He has travelled over safely and we're excited to see how he gets on.

Charlie Deutsch, rider of Fanion D'Estruval
It's a good race, but an open one, so we'll give it a good go. He's very good and he was young last year. He was given some big tests and may have lost his way a bit, but he's back on track and hopefully he can show how talented he is. Ascot's a unique course and takes a lot of jumping down the back, so his solid course form is another positive.

Colin Tizzard, trainer of Lostintranslation
A lot of horses were blown out of the water in the King George owing to the pace they went. He's in calmer waters here. I hope he's still a Gold Cup horse. His first run this season at Ascot suggested he was right back there. He needs to bounce back from Kempton, and then we can decide whether to go for the Gold Cup or the Grand National.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Saint Calvados
This has been the plan since the King George and he seems well. I'm not convinced he wants heavy rain all day and for the ground to become too testing. It will be fine if it's not bad. It takes time to get to know them, but he's progressed from Kempton and I think he's in a good place. There is no standout Grade 1 performer – it's a tight bunch and they're all capable of running well.

Kim Bailey, trainer of Two For Gold
It's a big ask and we'll see if he gets the trip but we do know he handles soft ground so hopefully he can be competitive.

Saturday's previews:

Bristol and Goshen to the fore as old friends provide comfort in stormy weather

1.50 Ascot: National Hunt Chase credentials on the line as Does He Know bids for Grade 2 win

2.05 Haydock: Olly Murphy 'can't be sure' if well-fancied Thomas Darby will handle the ground

2.20 Gowran Park: Triumph Hurdle hero Quilixios out to earn spot in Champion Hurdle line-up

2.25 Ascot: 'He could be a bit better than a handicapper' - can Fiddlerontheroof come good?

2.40 Haydock: Well-treated Sam Brown near-perfect at Haydock and has more improvement in him

3.20 Wincanton: 'Lots of people have doubted him, but I haven't. I know he's a good horse'

Saturday Jury: 'He's a Grade 1 horse in a handicap' - our panel pick their fancies for Saturday

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