Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece, I’m previewing Saturday’s big handicap, the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock. Plus, you’ll find my thoughts on a good afternoon of racing at Newbury and Fairyhouse.
Looking Ahead to the Weekend
The Berkshire Winter Million returns this weekend, spanning Windsor and Ascot. Windsor hosts racing on Friday and Sunday, with Ascot sandwiched in between on Saturday. ITV Racing will cover the best of the action across the three days.
Friday’s Windsor card features the Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase (1:50), alongside the Sovereign Handicap Hurdle, which has £57,233 on offer to the winner.
On Saturday, the focus switches to Ascot. The feature is the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase, supported by a good undercard.
ITV Racing will also show three races live from Haydock, including the Grade 2 Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (1:25) and the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (2:00).
The Berkshire Million concludes at Windsor on Sunday. The feature is the Fleur de Lys Chase (3:00), worth £165,000 in guaranteed prize money. ITV4 will show five races live from Windsor, with two more from Fakenham.
Haydock: Peter Marsh Handicap Chase
The Peter Marsh Handicap Chase was first run in 1981 as a Limited Handicap. Little Owl won the inaugural renewal before landing that season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Bregawn followed up the following year, finishing second in that season’s Gold Cup before winning that race twelve months later.
The Thinker completed the Peter Marsh/Gold Cup double in 1987, with Jodami repeating the feat in 1993.
More recently, Bristol De Mai won in 2017, while Royale Pagaille landed back-to-back renewals in 2021 and 2022. Last year’s race went to Mr Vango.
The race has changed in recent seasons. In 2024, it became a full weight-range Premier Handicap, rather than a Limited Handicap. It’s not quite the contest it once was, but it still demands stamina, good jumping, and resilience.
Trends
Looking at the trends since 2009 (13 winners from 141 runners):
Highest class run:
Previous Grade 1 runners – 8 winners from 55 runners +11, 18 places.
Course winners:
Previous Haydock winners – 9 winners from 56 runners, 20 places.
Last-time-out placing:
Finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd – 9 winners from 68 runners, 21 places.
Handicap chase wins:
One or two wins – 8 winners from 58 runners, +26.75, 16 places.
Days since run:
26–45 days – 9 winners from 69 runners, +26.75, 17 places.
Official rating:
152+ – 5 winners from 25 runners, +14.75, 7 places.
Last race track:
Aintree, Ascot or Chepstow – 0 winners from 41 runners, Exp/Wins = 4.59.
Trends Verdict
There are no standout trends, but a few useful pointers. A Previous Grade 1 run is a positive, as is a past win at Haydock. A relatively recent run isn’t a negative either. Conversely, runners coming from Aintree, Ascot or Chepstow have a poor recent record. That said, I won’t let the trends dominate my thinking when assessing the race.
Contenders
Fifteen horses were entered on Monday. Thankfully, the BHA resisted the temptation to reschedule Warwick’s abandoned Classic Chase to Windsor. Had that happened, we could easily have been staring at a single-figure field by final declarations on Thursday.
I’ll leave a full deep dive until declarations, but a few stand out at this stage.
Royale Pagaille carries top weight as he bids for a third win in the race. He was pulled up last year, but with soft ground he can never be dismissed lightly around here.
Last year’s winner Mr Vango arrives off a solid runner-up effort in the Becher Chase. However, he’ll need genuinely soft ground just to line up and probably heavy if he’s to repeat last year’s success over this trip.
Myretown was ante-post favourite for last Saturday’s abandoned Classic Chase. A mark of 142 looks lenient given connections see him as a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup horse. If those ambitions are justified, he really should be winning a race like this off his current mark.
Konfusion Heads the Market
The Sue Smith & Joel Parkinson yard are having an excellent season with their handicap chasers and are also 3 winners from 9 runners +13, 6 places in this race since 2009. They have two entries in this year’s race: Konfusion and Grand Geste.
Rowland Meyrick winner Konfusion is the early market leader as he chases a hat-trick. He also holds a Gold Cup entry. He’s a staying handicap chaser going the right way. He’s jumped well to win his last two starts and finds plenty for pressure. Like his stablemate Grand Geste is an improving handicap chaser but despite having won the Tommy Whittle over C&D last time, looks more likely to head to Doncaster for next weekend’s Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase.
Johnnywho will be in plenty of notebooks after his eye-catching third in Ascot’s Silver Cup (3m) 28 days ago. He wasn’t foot-perfect, but he stayed on better than anything and looks primed for a step up in trip.
Jack’s Parrot was third to Grand Geste in the Tommy Whittle, beaten just over ten lengths. He’s 11lb better off here, but that rival remains open to more progress. For me, 3m1½f doesn’t look a stiff enough stamina test for him. There’s a race at Windsor on Sunday that would fit him better.
Richmond Lake looks the best-handicapped horse in the race. He shaped as though he stayed the trip when finishing a 3¼-length third to Mr Vango in last year’s renewal. He now runs off a mark 8lb lower than 12 months ago and is 23lb better off with the winner. On pure handicapping grounds, he holds a big chance.
Wednesday Racing
The midweek highlight is the rescheduled Fairyhouse card, abandoned on Saturday morning due to freezing conditions. The feature race is the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (Grade 3, 2:15). Besides the big race it’s a meeting well worth watching if you have Racing TV.
Fairyhouse
2:15 – Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – 2m1f
Blood Destiny, a previous course winner, is the class act. The drop back to 2m1f looks ideal. If he’s in the right mood, he could win this comfortably.
Gavin Cromwell dominated last year’s renewal with the first, second and third, and all three return. Last year’s winner The King Of Prs is just 2lb higher than 12 months ago and must be respected. Path d’Oroux is consistent but doesn’t win very often, he should appreciate drying ground. Midnight It Is was well beaten on seasonal return behind Drumgil here but is a C&D winner and capable of going close if turning up on a going day. Yard form remains a worry 1 from 30 in the past 14 days.
Newbury
Alongside Fairyhouse, there’s a solid card at Newbury. The most valuable race is the Listed Mares’ Chase (3:15), which looks a straightforward opportunity for Panic Attack to complete the hat-trick after landing the Paddy Power and Coral Gold Cup double in November.
There’s also plenty of depth elsewhere, with races for promising youngsters and three competitive handicaps.
2:05 – Handicap Chase (Class 4) – 2m7½f
Buckna improved again when making it 2 from 3 over fences at Hereford last month. He handles good and good-to-soft ground, but a 7lb rise could make completing the hat-trick tougher.
Muskoka has finished runner-up on his last two starts and is knocking on the door. Notably, this is Harry Cobden’s sole ride on the card.
Top Target was running well when falling at the last at Doncaster. He’s ground versatile and remains open to further progress over fences.
Aviation built on his chase debut when a ¾-length second here over 2m4f 28 days ago. He’s up 3lb but is going the right way. If his stamina holds, he should be thereabouts.
2:40 – Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) – 3m½f
A race with a handful of last-time-out winners open to further progress over hurdles.
Likely favourite C’Est Different ended last season with back-to-back wins and resumed with an improved success in a Pertemps qualifier at Market Rasen 49 days ago. He’s up 12lb but remains progressive and could defy top weight.
Top Guy improved for the step up in trip when winning an Aintree novice handicap last month. He’s 5lb higher, but he’s open to further improvement over staying distances.
Block Rockin Beats gained his first win since his bumper debut when coming from off the pace at Lingfield (2m7f) 24 days ago. This longer trip could bring more improvement, though a 6lb rise asks a question.
3:50 – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) – 2m½f
Another race dominated by improving last time winners.
General Briar benefitted from the drop back in trip when making all at Plumpton (2m) last month. He’s unexposed at the distance and can progress now handicapping.
Leaumec De Mee got off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles at Sedgefield. Open to improvement on handicap debut.
Soldier’s Leap broke through on seasonal return at Stratford and followed up at Uttoxeter. An 11lb rise demand another step forward, but he should remain competitive.
Premier gained a first success over hurdles at Taunton 23 days ago. The 8lb rise looks fair, and he’s capable of better. Effective on good ground and holds solid claims of following up.
Tintintin didn’t take to fences when pulled up last time. Back over hurdles with first-time cheekpieces, he’s well handicapped on his best form, including when a length fourth to Go Dante in last year’s Imperial Cup. Often at his best in spring and is effective on good ground.
Tomorrow’s column will focus on Thursday’s Wincanton card where the feature race is a competitive looking Somerset National.
Good luck with your Wednesday bets.
John