Pic D'Orhy sets up Shishkin clash with emphatic Silviniaco Conti win 

Saturday: Kempton

Pic D'Orhy put himself in line for an explosive clash with Shishkin at Ascot next month thanks to an impressive front-running victory in the Grade 2 Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase.

Just hours after Nicky Henderson had pinpointed the Betfair Ascot Chase on February 18 as the likely next target for Shishkin, connections of Pic D'Orhy were eyeing the same race after a bloodless 16-length success in the hands of Harry Cobden.

"You've absolutely got to have a go and I'd be excited," said winning owner Johnny de la Hey on a potential showdown with Shishkin. "Good horses in good races – why not?"

Pic D'Orhy is certainly turning into a good one and followed up an impressive win in last month's Peterborough Chase on his previous start in emphatic style, despite his connections fearing the ground had gone against them.

"We were seriously worried it was going to be too soft, but he's putting it all together now," added De la Hey. "His jumping has improved immeasurably and he looked quite quick today.

"We love the Ascot Chase and that would be the obvious race to go to now, and maybe Aintree after that.

"We always think he's slightly better on a flat track and he's not a million miles from a proper Grade 1 horse."

Arclight handed Triumph Hurdle quote

Arclight's task was made considerably easier when market rival Regally Blonde unseated at the first, but the winner did not leave much room for criticism as she strolled 43 lengths clear of her closest rival in the 2m juvenile hurdle for fillies.

Recruited from Sir Mark Prescott's yard on the Flat, Arclight was taking her record to two from two for Nicky Henderson over hurdles and she is likely to bid for the hat-trick in the coming weeks.

"You've got to take what you're given, but Arclight is a sweet filly," said Henderson. "She's very game and genuine. I can't believe she liked that ground, but she handled it."

The winner was handed a quote of 25-1 with Coral for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, although Henderson was not looking beyond Doncaster on January 27 for the Fortnum Racing-owned daughter of Champs Elysees.

"Having only had to do what she has today, I think she'll go for the Listed juvenile hurdle for fillies at Doncaster in 13 days' time," he added. "Getting some black type would be like winning the Gold Cup!"

Henderson and rider Nico de Boinville completed a short-priced double on the card with Quick Draw's comfortable win in the 2m4½f handicap chase.

Arclight strolls to a 43-length success in the openerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Reliable Annsam wins again

Evan Williams is eyeing next month's Coral Trophy back at Kempton for Annsam, who ploughed through the mud to win the 3m handicap chase by 17 lengths.

"He's a smashing old boy on his day," said the winning trainer. "If you're being brutal about it, I would say that ground is hard work and I'd say it stopped a lot of them behind us. I wouldn't get carried away, but he's a horse who wins races wherever you go."

Looking to the Coral Trophy on February 25, Williams added: "It all went wrong in that race last year, but I'd say it would be the right race to come back for."

Results, replays and analysis

Read Saturday's reports:

Classic Chase: 383 days off . . . no problem! Iwilldoit back at hisbest with return

Warwick: 'Some were under par' - Skelton fires in double to quash doubts over yard form

Lanzarote Hurdle: 'This is up there with the big ones' - Andrews revels in Kempton nail-biter

Fairyhouse: 'That was some thrill' - Danoli days evoked as Foley family celebrate with Gold

Wetherby: Brian Hughes makes course history as Richmond Lake sails home

Lingfield: 'I've thought about going abroad' - Annaf excites with easy weight-carrying win

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