Joseph O'Brien spies 'good opportunity' in Ascot Chase with Fakir D'Oudairies

Joseph O'Brien is relishing the opportunity to create history in Saturday's Betfair Ascot Chase after Fakir D'Oudairies was confirmed on Monday to be making the trip to Britain for the first time since his scintillating success in last year's Melling Chase.

It will be a first jumps runner O'Brien has saddled at Ascot, having drawn a blank with 50 runners at the track on the Flat so far, with the seven-year-old bidding to provide owner JP McManus with his first win in the race.

O'Brien, who has already demonstrated his placing skills this season with a successful foray with Sea Sessions in a Listed race at Doncaster at the end of January, said: "It looks a good opportunity for him to be competitive in Grade 1 company.

"He was obviously beaten well by Allaho last time but I thought it was a good run. He made a bad mistake early and ran home well. It was a good run at Punchestown in a very strong race. He's a Grade 1 winner and when you meet those Grade 1 horses you bump into the best of the best every time.

"It's great that we have a horse of this calibre that we can go to a race like this with a live chance and it'd be very special if we can manage to win it."

Betfair Ascot Chase: confirmations and betting

Last year's Ryanair runner-up has impressive form figures of 142221 in Britain, but O'Brien elected not to run in last month's inaugural Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield, instead staying on home soil and being beaten 12 lengths by Allaho at Thurles.

"We had the Lingfield option," said O'Brien. "But like I said at the time he was going to be possibly going back to England three or four times, so we decided to wait for a run at home and then come here.

"Whether you'd miss the Ryanair and go straight to Aintree or whether you'd run in both would probably depend on how the horse is training after Ascot but those are the logical races for him after here."

You have to go all the way back to 1996 for the sole Irish-trained winner of the race when the Edward O'Grady-trained Sound Man took the spoils.

With no Irish representative since the McManus-owned Coney Island was pulled up by Barry Geraghty four years ago, a Fakir D'Oudairies win could be an ominous sign for the Prestbury Cup at the festival next month.

Saint Calvados: ante-post favourite for the Betfair Ascot ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Leading the British hopes are Saint Calvados, who travelled well for a long way in the King George before weakening to third and could hand Paul Nicholls a fifth win in the race. Last year's winner Dashel Drasher is set to defend his crown hoping to reverse the form with his Lingfield conqueror Two For Gold.

Mister Fisher could bid to build on his bounce back to form in the Silviniaco Conti Chase last time out. Colin Tizzard confirmed Lostintranslation for Ascot, but took out Fiddlerontheroof.

Fanion D'Estruval and 2018 winner Waiting Patiently were the others to be confirmed in what looks a wide-open betting heat.

Another tricky task for punters comes in the form of the William Hill Grand National Trial at Haydock (2.40), with last season's Welsh National winner Secret Reprieve heading 16 entries.

Veteran Blaklion could bid to complete a hat-trick of course wins, while fellow Haydock lover Bristol De Mai and Midlands National scorer Time To Get Up are also entered.

A more select field of six has been entered for the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle (3.20) at Wincanton with Goshen potentially defending his crown, fresh from his Listed win at Sandown last time out.

Greatwood Hurdle runner-up Adagio and Monmiral are intriguing contenders back from breaks, with the Dan Skelton pair of Allmankind and Faivoir also entered alongside Llandinabo Lad.

Betfair Ascot Chase (3.35 Saturday)

Betfair: 5-2 Saint Calvados, 7-2 Mister Fisher, 4 Fanion D'Estruval, 9-2 Dashel Drasher, Fakir D'Oudairies, 8 Lostintranslation, 12 Waiting Patiently, Two For Gold

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