Pic D’Orhy returns to Ascot this Saturday with history in his sights. Paul Nicholls’ nine-year-old is bidding to become the first horse ever to win three consecutive renewals of the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase.
The French-bred gelding has already achieved something rare. His victories in 2024 and 2025 make him the first back-to-back winner since Riverside Theatre completed the double in 2011 and 2012. But a three-peat? That would be uncharted territory.
Our data goes back to 2004. In that time, no horse has managed three straight Ascot Chase wins. The race’s roll of honour features some genuine two-mile chasing greats — Kauto Star, Cue Card, Silviniaco Conti — yet even they couldn’t crack this particular code.
The Numbers Behind the Bid
Pic D’Orhy’s Ascot record is formidable. He’s finished in the top three in all five starts at the Berkshire track, winning four of them. His two Ascot Chase victories came by a combined eight lengths, and he’s yet to taste defeat in the race itself — his second-place finish in 2023 came behind Shishkin, who was rated 12lb his superior at the time.
Nicholls knows this race better than anyone. The Ditcheat handler has saddled the winner on five occasions since 2008, more than twice any other trainer. His Ascot Chase strike rate stands at 22% — impressive for a race that typically attracts elite opposition.
The partnership with Harry Cobden has been particularly productive. Cobden has ridden Pic D’Orhy in all but one of his 32 career starts. Their chemistry was evident in last year’s renewal when they tracked the pace before asserting inside the final fence.
Form Check: Still at His Peak?
This season hasn’t gone entirely to script. Pic D’Orhy finished second in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby in November, beaten five lengths by the progressive Nickle Back. He then trailed home third in the 1965 Chase back at Ascot, though that came over an extended two and a half miles — a trip that stretches his stamina.
The bare form figures of 2-3 this autumn don’t scream “dominant force,” but context matters. The Charlie Hall was run at a brutal gallop on good ground that suited a younger, fresher rival. The 1965 Chase trip is famously demanding — ask any of the 2015 Gold Cup field who contested it.
His rating has actually ticked up from 161 to 162, suggesting the handicapper still views him as being at or near his peak. At nine, he’s in the sweet spot for a top-class two-mile chaser: experienced enough to handle big-race pressure, young enough to still be sharp.
The Historical Context
Three-peats in Grade 1 chases are rarer than you might think. Kauto Star won four King Georges, but never three on the bounce. Cue Card managed two Ryanair victories but couldn’t complete the set. Even the great Altior, who won 19 consecutive chase starts, never attempted three Champion Chases.
The Ascot Chase itself has a habit of producing different winners. Since 2015, we’ve seen seven different horses lift the trophy. The race often serves as a Cheltenham Festival prep, meaning horses are rarely at full fitness — and occasionally pointed elsewhere if the ground or timing doesn’t suit.
Pic D’Orhy’s task is complicated by the presence of Royale Pagaille, who returns from a wind operation and represents the strongest domestic opposition. The 2022 Gold Cup third has the class to win this if fully tuned up.
The Verdict
History suggests Pic D’Orhy faces a stiff task. No horse has managed what he’s attempting, and back-to-back winners typically find life harder in their third crack — Riverside Theatre finished third when going for his treble in 2013.
Yet the data also shows he’s running in the right colours. Nicholls has won this race five times, and his record with horses attempting repeat victories is strong. Cyrname won here in 2019 having finished down the field the year before. Silviniaco Conti turned previous Ascot disappointment into 2016 glory.
Pic D’Orhy’s love of the track is undeniable. His four wins from five starts at Ascot represents the best course form in the field. If he can reproduce his 2024-2025 Ascot Chase level, he’ll take some stopping.
Saturday’s renewal isn’t just a race. It’s a shot at history. Whether he succeeds or not, Pic D’Orhy has already cemented his place among the Ascot Chase greats. A third straight win would put him in a category of one.
The Betfair Ascot Chase runs this Saturday, 14 February, at 15:00. Pic D’Orhy is currently a best-priced 7/4 favourite.