Can First Flow defend his Peterborough Chase crown against strong rivals?

Fitzdares Peterborough Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

First Flow bids for back-to-back successes in the Grade 2 Fitzdares Peterborough Chase on his first start since chasing home superstars Energumene and Shishkin in the Clarence House at Ascot in January.

The ten-year-old bounced back from defeats in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Punchestown Champion Chase when winning this race last year, before finishing third under David Bass last time.

"I'm happy with him but we'll walk the course to check the ground," said trainer Kim Bailey. "I'd prefer it to be softer but we're very limited as to where we can go with him and hopefully conditions won't be far away from what they were at this meeting last year.

"It's a typically competitive race and he'll be doing his best but whether he's still good enough at his age is a different matter."

There is little to split First Flow and Millers Bank in the betting. The latter provided Alex Hales and jockey Kielan Woods with their first top-level success in the Manifesto Novices' Chase at April and finished second in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase in October.

Pic D'Orhy is prominent in the market after winning on his seasonal reappearance at Newton Abbot, while Allmankind is among those with a point to prove as he bids for his first win since October 2021.

Pic D'Orhy: scored on his first start this campaignCredit: Edward Whitaker

The six-year-old won a Grade 2 novice chase at the end of the 2020-21 season but struggled for form after winning last year's Old Roan Chase, finishing fifth in the Peterborough before being pulled up in the National Spirit Hurdle and finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Melling Chase. He was then last of 11 in a Flat handicap at Newmarket in October.

"Last season started really well for him but hasn't been the same this year," said trainer Dan Skelton. "His form hasn't really been there since this time last year so we're doing things a little bit differently.

"He gave a lot as a young horse and while he's fit and healthy, the form isn't there at the moment. I can't go into into the race thinking he'll trouble the others but he definitely has the ability to do so."

The field is completed by Mister Fisher, a faller at Cheltenham last time, Pink Legend and Do Your Job, a Grade 2 novice chase winner who is winless in two starts since stepping up into open company.

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Mister Fisher
This is always the race we target for him every year. He's not able to win a Grade 1 or handicap but he won this race when it was run at Cheltenham and he's got his right trip and ground. He fell last time but we were at least able to get a run into him.

Michael Scudamore, trainer of Do Your Job
He's come out of Ascot well. He's stepped up to the big leagues but has disappointed in his two runs this season and we're on a bit of a recovery mission. The trip and ground will suit and we're hoping he can bounce back to the kind of form he demonstrated as a novice.

Alex Hales, trainer of Millers Bank
The plan was to go for the Old Roan and then come here but he ran at Carlisle instead. He's come out of that really well and won at this track last season. This always looked like the right race for him.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Pic D'Orhy
He'll be suited by the flat right-handed track and the ground will be ideal. It looks like a competitive race but he seems in good shape.

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