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Peter Marsh Chase Preview – Ageless Veteran Can Complete Belated Hat-Trick in Haydock Handicap

Having not been run for the last two years, this season’s Peter Marsh Chase could play host to history. Joe Napier previews the big Haydock handicap and gives his 1-2-3 verdict.

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ROYALE PAGAILLE

(Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch)

With this being the first Peter Marsh Chase run in three years, Royale Pagaille is the two-time defending champion and thus has the chance to become the first horse to win the race on three occasions. Since his last Peter Marsh win, he has added two further course and distance victories in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, taking his record at the track to five wins from six starts.

Even off a mark of 166, the highest he will have run off in a handicap, the evidence of his form at Haydock stacks up overwhelmingly positively. He beat a genuine Grade 1 rival in Grey Dawning to claim the 2024 Betfair Chase in November, pulling 12 lengths clear of Bravemansgame, who was runner-up to him in the 2023 edition. What could count against Royale Pagaille is his age, but even at 11 years old, his form does not look like slowing down. The heavier ground also speaks in his favour.


MR VANGO

(Sara Bradstock/Jack Tudor)

Though still inexperienced over fences, Mr Vango is a consummate staying professional. Five runs have produced two victories and two thirds, one of which came in last season’s National Hunt Chase. His only disappointment was as favourite for the 2024 Scottish National, in which he was pulled up.

This 3m1½f trip will be the shortest he has raced over since his chase debut, in which he was third over half a furlong shorter, but Haydock is a different beast on soft ground or slower, so he will surely feel right at home here. His win at Sandown on return saw him at his most dogged, but off 5lb higher, he might not have too much leg room left in his mark. Nevertheless, there will be few outstaying him up the straight if he remains in the mix.

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TRELAWNE

(Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls/Tom Bellamy)

Trelawne’s fourth-placed finish at Ascot in December was the first time he had finished outside of the first three under rules when remaining on his feet. Such is the consistency of Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls’ charge that he has to be routinely considered to be a contender here, especially as his win on seasonal return came at this venue.

Remarkably, all five of his wins have come after breaks of at least 100 days from the track, though he has largely maintained his form deeper into the season. Nevertheless, there are lingering doubts about the nine-year-old’s form when not fresh, his current mark of 152, and whether he will fully see out this trip on soft ground.


IWILLDOIT

(Sam Thomas/Dylan Johnston)

Another among the veterans’ brigade in this race, Iwilldoit is a former Welsh National and Classic Chase winner, so he is another where there can be no doubts about his stamina or heart for this contest. For a 12-year-old, he has not been overraced either, running just ten times over fences in his career.

That may have been the secret to him finishing third in another Welsh National in 2024, the same position he finished in 12 months prior. Unfortunately for connections, he is back up 3lb as a result, as such being 1lb higher than when only fifth in the Grand National Trial at this track last season. With that in mind, he would be a surprise winner, though it would never be a surprise if he made the frame.

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THE FIELD

Imagine made no impact on his first start for Harry Derham in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. However, the good ground may have gone against him, though the big step up in trip here is interesting, as he is related to a number of thorough stayers in France having never himself been beyond 2m4½f. He could be a wildcard option.

The oldest member of the line-up is Royale Pagaille’s stablemate Chambard, though the 13-year-old’s racing days are waning and he has never been enamoured with Haydock. Likewise, Bill Baxter’s form has tailed off significantly over fences since he won the 2023 Topham and he is 9lb out the weights. Richmond Lake has in better shape of late and has won at Haydock before, though he would appear to be a doubtful stayer.


VERDICT

A third Peter Marsh success awaits ROYALE PAGAILLE, who is on his highest ever mark in a handicap, but has won two Betfair Chases since he last ran in one, which arguably suggests this 11-year-old has never been in better form. He could be given most to do by Imagine, whose mark of 144 could be lenient on his Irish form and who is related to horses who have excelled over further in France. Mr Vango and Iwilldoit are generally reliable as stayers over even further and can join the conversation too.

  1. Royale Pagaille
  2. Imagine
  3. Mr Vango
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