'He was never going to stop' - Pic D’Orhy denies L'Homme Presse in Ascot Chase under 'fantastic' Harry Cobden ride

Harry Cobden, going all out to land a first jump jockeys' title this season, served up a ride befitting of a champion as Pic D'Orhy put in a swashbuckling round of jumping from the front to run away with the £175,000 Betfair Ascot Chase. 

With market rivals L'Homme Presse and Ahoy Senor dropping back in trip, Cobden sensed an opportunity as the tapes went up aboard a partner who is something of a specialist when it comes to 2m5f at Ascot. 

While his rivals wanted a lead, Cobden was happy to oblige but only on his terms and he made sure the revs were up from the start.

Once haphazard over fences, Pic D'Orhy has matured into a bona fide Grade 1 performer and Cobden had total confidence in his ally as he dared him from one fence to the next. 

The pursuers closed on the leader running through Swinley Bottom but Cobden was still calling the shots and started to extend his advantage running down to the home turn. 

Pic D'Orhy was good at the second-last but exceptional when he needed to be at the final fence, cruising home five and a half lengths clear of L'Homme Presse, with a further four lengths back to Ahoy Senor at the line. 

"I had a free hand to do whatever but I just thought on this ground it's not going to take much getting," said an uber-cool Cobden. "He stays, he gallops and he goes well around here so I thought, 'Right, let's put them to the sword.'" 

Asked at what point he thought the prize was theirs, Cobden added: "Jumping the second; I was [already] a long way clear. It always helps when you've got a horse going forward [at the start]. Their horses were probably a little bit stuttery and mine was going forward. I winged the first, winged the second and winged the third. I've done it before and when it doesn't work out you get called a few things. 

Pic D'Orhy: a sublime winner of the Ascot ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"I've had some bad falls off him but he's learned a lot and people underestimate how good he is."  

The victory provided further vindication for the policy winning trainer Paul Nicholls has increasingly adopted through his career of tackling big races outside the Cheltenham Festival in March. While the second and third were en route to Cheltenham, this was the destination for Pic D'Orhy, who looked a million dollars before the race and will now bid for a repeat win in the Melling Chase at Aintree in April.

"That's why Harry is vying to be champion jockey, it was a fantastic ride," said Nicholls, who with five successes has won the Ascot Chase more times than any other trainer. "We were always going to be positive and to put some good horses in their place like that was fantastic.  

"Harry knows him well enough and I don't have to tell him what to do. He nicked a few lengths [at the start] and he was never going to stop. I really want Harry to be champion jockey. He deserves it and he's riding like a champion jockey." 

L'Homme Presse was beaten but not bowed according to part-owner Andy Edwards, who is relishing the prospect of stepping up in trip in next month's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. 

"He needs an extra five furlongs so it was always going to be tough when there was no rain last night," said Edwards. "I did half think about not running him yesterday but he needed the run before the Gold Cup and I'm really happy."

Bookmakers disagreed, with William Hill easing his odds to 14-1 (from 8-1) for the Gold Cup on March 15.

The Ahoy Senor camp were singing from a similar hymn sheet, although whether he is bound for the Gold Cup or the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham remains undecided. 

"I'm absolutely delighted with him," said trainer Lucinda Russell. "It's probably one of the best pre-Cheltenham races we could have had. We had to hold him up as he couldn't get to Pic D'Orhy, who was well ridden by Harry. His jumping was brilliant, he had one slow one, but I'm very pleased. All roads to Cheltenham but I don't know which race."

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