2025 Ascot Chase News - Quotes from connections
- Quotes from connections ahead of the 2025 Ascot Chase
- This Grade One takes place at Ascot on Saturday 15th February
- Read quotes from Paul Nicholls, Emmet Mullins, Dan Skelton and more
Trainers Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton look on at Exeter Racecourse. (Getty)
- 2025 Ascot Chase News - Quotes From Connections
- Paul Nicholls (Pic D'Orhy)
- Venetia Williams (L'Homme Presse)
- Emmet Mullins (Corbetts Cross)
- JJ Slevin (Blue Lord)
- Dan Skelton (Flegmatik)
Contents
Quotes from connections ahead of the 2025 Ascot Chase, which headlines Saurday's action in Berkshire.
Read what the connections of this year's contenders have had to say before their stable stars contest this valuable Grade One.
2025 Ascot Chase News - Quotes From Connections
Paul Nicholls (Pic D'Orhy)
We're looking forward to it, the best thing that we did was not run him the other day at Windsor in that very testing ground again.
He obviously won very, very well (at Ascot in November) and the fact that we didn't run that day means he's nice and fresh and well which is a plus, he looks great and he's been working really nicely. If he runs like he did last year, he's going to be the one to beat.
You just wonder whether two miles and five would be a bit sharp for him (Corbetts Cross), he won at the Festival last year over three miles, six and he probably ran a little bit below expectations in the King George. Perhaps he's the little bit of an unknown in the race.
L'Homme Presse was in good form the other day, it just strikes me that he's a little bit better going left-handed and at Cheltenham he needed every bit of three mile, one to beat Stage Star. So it's an interesting race but this trip, the track and ground suits us perfectly so we're in a good place and really looking forward to it.
We've always felt these tracks have suited him and Johnny (de la Hey, owner) has never been that mad to run him in a Ryanair (Chase), we always ran him in this race and thought we'd go to Aintree with him which worked two years ago. But he's never really been thought of as a Cheltenham, more a horse who likes a flatter track over the undulations of Cheltenham.
He's not your top Grade 1 horse who is going to win a Ryanair, but he's a very smart horse who can win these sort of races by placing him right.
Venetia Williams (L'Homme Presse)
He's come out of the Cotswold really well. I was thrilled with him at Cheltenham and it was nice to see him going away at the line.
He's a veteran now who hasn't had a lot of racing and it's not all about Cheltenham, is it?
Emmet Mullins (Corbetts Cross)
I think we’re in a good position now. We didn’t really get a clear run of things; he wasn’t right for the Betfair Chase, and we kind of stumbled our way on to the King George,” said the trainer.
He was just flat in Kempton, he was never going and never travelled. You could put that down to inexperience or the big occasion, but I don’t think the horse was right when he didn’t finish off his race, as we know he’s got a high cruising speed and he can stay.
I suppose we just put a line through it when he didn’t pick up in the home straight.
I’ve had a few clean weeks, there’s plenty of work gone into him now and I’m very happy – I think we’re nearly there, which is just what I wanted, and it’s only a bit of maintenance now and keeping him ticking over, I think.
JJ Slevin (Blue Lord)
It's a big pot and only six runners. It's his first try at the trip and well worth bringing him over to see what he can do.
Pic D'Orhy's in there and they won't be hanging around with him. Blue Lord will enjoy a lead and you'd imagine he'd be comfortable going that trip. The track should suit him, so we're hoping for a good run.
I don't know what way the ground is going to be, but I think he's versatile enough.
Dan Skelton (Flegmatik)
Flegmatik is in the big Grade 1 and we'll just keep an eye on the ground, we don't want it to dry out too much. Look, he's got a big job on here to pick up any more than sixth place obviously.
He's not the best handicapped now, and he can pick up some prize money here, whereas in handicaps he's finishing third and fourth. I thought he was worth a look here, but obviously I've got loads of respect for the Grade 1 horses.
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