Haydock tips: Peter Marsh Chase horse by horse preview

Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (a Limited Handicap), 3m 1f & 125y

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ROYAL PAGAILLE

It's fair to say that Royal Pagaille has improved out of all recognition in two starts this season, so much so that connections felt it worthwhile entering him in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which wouldn't look as fanciful as many understandably feel should he readily defy a mark of 156 in this competitive staying contest.

The Rich Ricci owned seven-year-old sauntered to a comfortable success over an extended two-miles-and-five-furlongs at Haydock in early December before impressively dispatching a progressive rival at Kempton, which earned him rises of 5lbs and 16lbs respectively.

Clearly Royal Pagaille is improving at a rate of knots and he handled heavy ground perfectly well last month. The only slight negative is his ability to make a significant mistake, which hasn't cost him yet but could do so at some stage. However, if he is as good as connections clearly feel, then the fences may prove his stiffest opposition.

SAM BROWN

The phrase 'talented but fragile' certainly applies to Sam Brown, who has often displayed significant potential on the track but has missed plenty of time through injury. However, he remains lightly-raced as a result of his fragility and he could prove better than his current mark under favourable conditions.

Anthony Honeyball's eight-year-old defied a 750-day absence when making a successful chasing debut at Lingfield last season and he backed up that success with a 15 lengths romp in Grade 2 company at Haydock.

Sam Brown was then pulled-up when sent off a 2/1 favourite for the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot in February, however he may well have been feeling the effects of his two recent outings which came in quick succession. It may be foolish to hold that against him.

The Black Sam Bellamy gelding, who boasts form-figures of 11111P3 on soft or heavy ground, placed third behind subsequent Grade 2 scorer Imperial Aura on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle in November and has since missed engagements in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. However he certainly possesses a great deal of potential and undoubtedly rates a very big player if lining up on Saturday.

CAP DU NORD

Cap Du Nord turned a competitive looking Newbury handicap into a procession on his penultimate outing before bumping into a clearly very well handicapped Royal Pagaille, who he may renew rivalries with this weekend, at Kempton over Christmas.

Christian Williams' seven-year-old has climbed 16lbs in the ratings as a result of those two outings however the form of his Newbury success received a boost when the runner-up landed the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

Clearly Cap Du Nord is in fine heart at present and could conceivably improve further given the strength of his form. However life will naturally be tougher off his greatly increased mark and the likely conditions would be a big concern as he is yet to win on ground worse than good to soft, albeit he ran well on soft going at Kempton.

COBOLOBO

Course and distance winner Cobolobo will have to overcome a career-high mark of 136 following a smooth success at Exeter last month but hails from a yard that are in good form at present and further progression is possible.

Three of Cobolobo's four career victories have been achieved on testing ground so he is likely to enjoy the conditions that Haydock will serve up on Saturday. However this does represent a significant rise in grade and he looks vulnerable to a classier rival.

SAMS ADVENTURE

Sam's Adventure placed fifth over this course and distance in November before returning to Haydock to land a competitive handicap chase over the same track and trip last month. He is clearly more than capable of launching a bold bid on Saturday.

Brian Ellison's nine-year-old will compete off a 6lbs higher mark this weekend but the manner of his success last month suggested that there may be more to come. Five of his six career victories to date have been achieved on heavy ground so he will likely encounter ideal conditions at the weekend.

PERFECT CANDIDATE

Perfect Candidate's last two victories have come at this venue and the latter was achieved by no fewer than 45 lengths. The evergreen teenager should not be underestimated if taking his chance.

Fergal O'Brien's stable stalwart relished the heavy ground on the last occasion and he certainly won't shy away from a battle. He will be dropping back in trip on Saturday which may not prove ideal but was rated in the mid 150s at his peak and could run well off a mark of 142.

LAMANVER PIPPIN

Lemanver Pippin finished third in a conditional/amateur jockeys' handicap chase at Cheltenham before failing to justify favouritism in the Welsh Grand National Trail at Chepstow last month, when a disappointing seventh, beaten a shade over 38 lengths.

Colin Tizzard's lightly-raced eight-year-old was third in the Grade 2 National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March and seemingly has plenty of stamina. However he may not be the hardiest of individuals in the heat of a battle which is concerning in a race where brain must match brawn.

POTTERS LEGEND

Potters Legend landed a well-contested veterans chase at Warwick in November before chasing home a well-handicapped rival at Cheltenham in December, demonstrating that he still has an appetite for the game despite rising eleven this year.

Lucy Wadham's stable stalwart has clearly enjoyed the benefits of undergoing wind surgery and he was far from disgraced when fifth in the Veterans Chase Final at Sandown three weeks ago. We know that he handles the track and trip as a course and distance winner and he could run yet another sound race if handling the testing conditions.

ACEY MILAN

Acey Milan has failed to build upon a successful chasing debut at Aintree in October and his lack of chasing experience is far from ideal when competing in a contest of this nature.

Fifth of five in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices' Chase at Newbury in November, Anthony Honeyball's seven-year-old was beaten 31 lengths when last sighted at Plumpton and is already rated 5lbs above his mark over hurdles. He will need to find improvement in order to play a leading role on Saturday.

CLAN LEGEND

Clan Legend received an 8lbs hike in the ratings following his success at Aintree in December and will now compete off a career high mark of 135.

That looked a competitive race for the grade and further improvement cannot be ruled out. However while he is at home on testing ground, he is yet to fully prove his stamina over a trip beyond two-and-a-half-miles and as a result is far from guaranteed to stay.

BIGIRONONHISHIP

Bigirononhiship had potential rival Just Your Type back in second place when landing the Borders National at Kelso in December 2019 but could only place fifth in that same contest last month. He may struggle once more off just a 1lb lower mark.

Rose Dobbin's ten-year-old remains 9lbs above the mark from which he scored in 2019 and although he has plenty of form on soft ground, he is yet to truly prove himself on the type of surface that he is likely to encounter on Saturday. That's not ideal.

DIEU VIVANT

Dieu Vivant shaped much better on his second outing for Oliver Greenall at Bangor last month and may be fairly handicapped if bouncing back to the form of his 18 lengths romp in an Open Hunters Chase at Ludlow last February.

Clearly that form is still some way short of this grade and further improvement would be required. However he won twice over fences in his native France and does have a preference for soft ground. He shouldn't be hastily dismissed.

JUST YOUR TYPE

Just Your Type is a capable performer on his day but has been pulled-up on three of his last five starts and will compete from a 4lbs higher mark than that from which he scored at Uttoxeter in November.

That success was achieved on good ground and although he is officially a winner in both soft and heavy, he may not want the quagmire that awaits him on Saturday.

TAKINGRISKS

2019 Scottish Grand National hero Takingrisks ran respectably when fourth in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle - a race in which he defeated Capitan Chaos and Top Ville Ben in 2019 - and he should be well suited by the testing conditions.

Indeed, the increased emphasis on stamina will be right up his street and a mark of 146 may not be beyond him. He holds place claims.

FORTIFIED BAY

Fortified Bay was beaten 45 lengths when second behind the aforementioned Perfect Candidate at Haydock in November and will line-up on Saturday from a 2lbs lower mark.

Clearly a vastly improved performance will be required to trouble those towards the head of the betting.That said he remains relatively lightly raced over fences and is just 3lbs above his last winning mark. Another not to completely write off.

CLAUD AND GOLDIE

Claud And Goldie was fourth - beaten a shade over 27 lengths - in a course and distance handicap when last sighted in November and will need to find significant improvement on the bare form of that outing.

However Sandy Forster's 12-year-old ran a huge race to finish fourth in this contest 12 months ago off a 4lbs higher mark and it's possible that he's been trained with this race in mind ever since. Worth a market check.

CRIEVEHILL

Crievehill hasn't tasted success since scoring over this course and distance in November 2019 but has now slipped down to his last winning mark following three below par efforts this season.

Clearly the track and trip are of no concern but he does have a preference for decent ground and was soundly beaten by both Royal Pagaille and Cap Du Nord at Kempton in December. Others make more appeal.

SMOOTH STEPPER

Alex Hale's stout stayer ended the winning sequence of Lord Du Mesnil when staying on powerfully to land the Grade 3 Unibet Grand National Trial at Haydock in February and doesn't look too badly handicapped off a 4lbs higher mark.

Fifth on both of his starts this season, the gallant 12-year-old will be well suited by the extremely testing ground and could well outperform market expectations.

Verdict

Royal Pagaille is the obvious place to start as connections clearly feel that he possesses Grade 1 credentials, which would make a mark of 156 seem lenient if they are indeed correct. However his jumping is a slight concern and he will naturally face his toughest test to date.

Perfect Candidate and Takingrisks have plenty of miles on the clock but keep coming back for more and might run well, while Cap Du Nord may still have his best days ahead of him and is clearly in a good place at present.

However, the fragile but equally talented SAM BROWN makes plenty of appeal for the in-form yard of Anthony Honeyball.

The lightly raced nine-year-old took to fences like the proverbial duck to water last season and remains open to improvement after just four starts in this sphere. He will relish the testing ground that he is likely to encounter and we know that he acts at Haydock, which often counts for a lot in these competitive graded handicaps.

A mark of 152 could underestimate his true level of ability and he is more than capable of running well after a break.

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