‘He will run them into the ground’ – View the big-race verdict for the Ascot Chase 👊

‘His form on previous raids to these shores reads 142221’

An interesting renewal on paper, plenty of these arriving with a bit to prove. Fakir D’oudairies has been unfortunate to bump into Allaho the last twice but showed what he is capable of over this trip on deep ground at Clonmel when running away with the Clonmel Oil Chase in November. He will get a truly run race at the trip courtesy of Dashel Drasher which is going to be a big help to him and his form this time of year tends to improve, the closer we get to spring. His form on previous raids to these shores reads 142221 with a repeat of his best making him the one to beat. – Matt Newman

‘He will run them into the ground’

Although I fully agree with Matt that Fakir D’Oudairies is arguably the class act in the race, he is going to have to go some to catch Dashel Drasher. His experience around Ascot will hold him in good stead and he won this race 12 months ago. He sucked the life out of Cyrname (eventually pulled up) and Master Tommytucker on the day and is likely to blaze a trail from the word go. Dashel Drasher gained his third course and distance victory here in December when winning a handicap off top weight and it will take a good one to stop him with conditions perfect. – Adrian Wall

‘He looks like great each-way value’

There are question marks over a number of the declared runners in this year’s Ascot Chase. Consequently, Lostintranslation looks like the best bet to me. Already a course and distance winner here this season, he looks like great each-way value. His Grade 2 victory here came at the expense of Dashel Drasher who was 16 lengths behind him in third and is a fraction of Lostintranslation’s price. The more testing the conditions are, the more they’ll suit this gelding who has placed in a Gold Cup and will appreciate a stamina test. – Liam Bramall