The 10-year-old is absolute mustard around Ascot and, just like he did in this race 12 months ago, he jumped like a buck on his way to a dominant win.
Pic D’Orhy’s task was undoubtedly made easier when the pulled-up L’Homme Presse, who was said to have lost his confidence after a bad blunder, exited stage left in the early stages.
Harry Cobden barely moved a muscle as he coasted across the line in splendid isolation, and Nicholls will now get him ready for a trip to Aintree in April for the Melling Chase.
“I love this game, I love the challenge, days like this and horses like this make it all worthwhile.”.
But it would have taken a monstrous performance to master Pic D’Orhy in this sort of mood, and he had too much speed and class for one-paced runner-up Corbetts Cross.
