15:15 Haydock

Saturday 20 January 2018

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:15

Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 7m 22.45s

Ptit Zig^b²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 153

33/1

Grade 1-winning hurdler and triple Grade 2-winning chaser when at his best However, jumping is a bit of a concern as seen at Ascot last time. 3lb drop won't harm. but tough task under top weight.

Form: 62-8430

Carole's Destrier⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 149

16/1

Has had one or two problems since winning London National (3m5f) at Sandown in 2015, but Hennessy (as it was at the time) second last season showed he retains ability and 5lb drop gives him each-way claims if better for reappearance.

Form: 1P0/29-8

Rock The Kasbah⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 149| C

7/1

Looked set for the Festival when scoring at Chepstow (2m7½f, soft) in February but bypassed that and also Welsh National after scoring again there in October. Up 7lb for that and potential improver, so enters calculations.

Form: 24126-1

Yala Enki²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 147| C| D

5/1

Relishes testing ground and scored here over 2m7f in last season's Tommy Whittle Chase. Not at his best at Ascot last time, but has a squeak if he can reproduce his Newcastle effort from last month.

Form: 441-P36

Captain Redbeard²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 144| C

12/1

Goes well here and was a 6L scorer over 2m7f (heavy) at the track last time out. 9lb rise for that, plus longer trip, will ask more questions, but he certainly has each-way claims going into this.

Form: 1P2-361

Fine Rightly^h²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: A E Lynch| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 143| D

22/1

Just about all his best form has been on bottomless ground and he is a former Grade 2 winner (also made frame in an Irish Gold Cup). Been racing over shorter lately, but return to this trip positive and he could get involved.

Form: 40-3320

Walk In The Mill²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 141

9/1

Has raced exclusively over fences under rules, winning 4-18. Successfully stepped up to 3m at Ascot (good to soft) in November and again went well there last time after 8lb rise. Nudged up another 2lb but acts on heavy and has claims.

Form: 197-513

Hainan⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 140| C

6/1

Bossed a 3m4½f handicap chase (heavy) here two months ago to win by 12L and looked the type to do well in this. 8lb rise looks fair and although he will need a career best, trainer knows how to win this race and he is short-listed.

Form: 2135-P1

Highland Lodge^p⁴²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: James Moffatt| OR: 138| C| D

25/1

Has been used sparingly but to good effect by this trainer, winning the 2015 Becher Chase (3m2f, soft) on his stable debut and making the frame in both seasons since over the National fences. Same mark today as last time and has an each-way chance.

Form: 21P/2P-3

Tintern Theatre²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138

13/2

Has shown promise in just three starts over fences and scored readily over Christmas at Kempton (3m, soft). Top trainer now gives him a crack at this level and he still has potential to go a fair bit further. Unexposed and has claims.

Form: 1-2F4U1

The Dutchman^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 135| BF

13/2

Has won on heavy ground. Slightly frustrating to follow in that he doesn't win often but runs well enough to stop the handicapper easing off. Same has been the case this season. Stays 3m and switched back to fences here there may be a few too good.

Form: F227-26

Forest Des Aigles^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 133

14/1

Has been in super form in the past year, winning four of his last five and made a successful step up to 3m at Bangor (heavy) last time. Up 8lb and in a tougher race today, but unexposed and very interesting with little weight to carry.

Form: 313-111

Knockanrawley^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 133| D

12/1

Stays 3m2f and handles heavy ground. Consistent from this sort of mark in lower grades than this and while you wouldn't want to rule him out of the frame again, he looks to have a challenge on to finish on the podium at this level.

Form: 3/526-23

Forecasts

Yala Enki (5/1), Hainan (6/1), The Dutchman (13/2), Tintern Theatre (13/2), Rock The Kasbah (7/1), Walk In The Mill (9/1), Captain Redbeard (12/1), Knockanrawley (12/1), Forest Des Aigles (14/1), Carole's Destrier (16/1), Fine Rightly (22/1), Highland Lodge (25/1), Ptit Zig (33/1)

Another cracking renewal of one of the season's traditional top staying handicap chases and the suggestion is ROCK THE KASBAH, who comes into this fresh enough and remains unexposed and a horse of potential. The same applies to both Forest Des Aigles and Tintern Theatre who are interesting contenders, while Walk In The Mill is short-listed and both Captain Redbeard and Hainan are others on the radar.