ROYALE PAGAILLE can win the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (A Limited Handicap) (2.35pm) for a second successive year at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon.
There has only been one dual winner of the Grade Two feature on Merseyside – and that was General Wolfe back in 1998 and 1999.
So while it is a tough task to win the race again, Royale Pagaille scored with such authority last year and at just eight-years-old should still be improving, so he can go in again.
Royale Pagaille scored by 16 lengths last year and although he is 7lb higher in the handicap this time, he carries the same top weight of 11st10lb and looks the class act in the field.
He is a genuine Grade One performer and although he was only sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at last year’s Cheltenham Festival following his Peter Marsh Chase win, he should be good enough to take this again en route to another crack at the blue riband at Prestbury Park.
He has two wins at Haydock from three runs, and his second-placed finish in the Betfair Chase at the Merseyside track in November behind A Plus Tard – admittedly 22 lengths adrift – was an excellent effort on his seasonal return.
Royale Pagaille has been off the track with a slight injury issue since, but with the soft conditions and the track ideal he can land another victory.
Plus the Grand National-winning yard of Williams have been in good form and their stable star can provide another big-race chase success for them.
Richard Hobson’s Lord Du Mesnil – who is owned by a syndicate which includes Mike and Mandy Smith from Wirral – is a three-time Haydock Park winner.
He is looking to become the first horse to win the four big staying chases – the Tommy Whittle Chase (2019), The Last Fling Chase (2019), the Grand National Trial (2021) and this Peter Marsh Chase. The eight-year-old thrives here and in these conditions and may give Royale Pagaille most to think about.
On an excellent seven-race card at Haydock there are four Grade One contests and NAVAJO PASS may also land a second successive victory in another one of them, the New One Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The Champion Hurdle Trial Race) (2pm).
Fresh from landing his quickest century of winners in a season, Merseyside-born trainer Donald McCain may add to that at one of his ‘home’ tracks.
His Navajo Pass shocked Buveur D’Air in this Grade Two contest last year and although he hasn’t gone on from that success, the return to Haydock and the fitting of blinkers might help him get back to winning ways.
He has to give the up-and-coming Tommy’s Oscar – who is bidding for a four-timer – 6lb, so it is no easy task.
But at the prices it is worth taking a chance of him upsetting another warm favourite.
McCain may also land a winner in the opener, the Grade Two Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (12.50pm) with MINELLA DRAMA.
The seven-year-old was a smart hurdler and made a wining debut over fences, when scoring over two miles at Uttoxeter.
He was only just touched off by War Lord at Carlisle and lost a shoe when fifth in the Grade One Close Brothers Henry VII Novices’ Chase at Sandown last time.
Dropped back down in grade and up in trip to 2m4f he can get the better of Jonjo O’Neill’s Papa Tango Charly and resume winning ways.
JONBON looks to be the star act at Haydock and despite not being a great betting proposition he can land the Grade Two Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.25pm) and book his ticket to a mouth-watering clash with stable-mate Constitution Hill at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old is unbeaten Under Rules, including two smart successes over hurdles at Newbury then spectacularly at Ascot before Christmas.
Owned by JP McManus, Jonbon looks a very smart young hurdler and he can score and head for that clash with a similarly exciting prospect Constitution Hill in the Cheltenham Festival opener, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, in March.
Another horse who won at Haydock on this day last year, POTTERS HEDGER, may also land back-to-back victories in the Stuart Whittle’s 40th Birthday Handicap Hurdle (3.10pm).
Lucy Wadham’s 10-year-old has not won since last year, but his handicap mark now is 2lb less than that day, he has had wind surgery and will have come on for his seasonal return sixth at Market Rasen in November.
He can bounce back to score again.
Others who may win at Haydock are the Dr Richard Newland-trained KATPOLI in the Smalley Decorators Sisters Handicap Chase (3.45pm); and McCain’s SACRE PIERRE in the finale, the Plank Lane Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier) (4.15pm).
At Ascot Henderson’s SHISHKIN can come out on top in his clash with Energumene to keep up his unbeaten record in the Grade One SBK Clarence House Chase (GBB Race) (3.35pm).
Dan Skelton’s MOLLY OLLYS WISHES can grab victory in the Grade Two SBK Mares’ Hurdle (Registered As The Warfield) (GBB Race) (2.20pm).
The Emme Lavelle-trained KILLER CLOWN – back to form to win at Wincanton last time after disappointments at Aintree Racecourse and Newbury – can also land another success in the bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.55pm).
Others who can win at Ascot are Paul Nicholls’ SONIGINO in the SBK Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.45pm); and the Evan Williams-trained WINDS OF FIRE in the SBK Handicap Chase (1.10pm).
Wright Ones
HAYDOCK PARK
12.50pm Minella Drama
1.25pm Jonbon
2pm Navajo Pass
2.35pm Royale Pagaille (NAP)
3.10pm Potters Hedger
3.45pm Katpoli
4.15pm Sacre Pierre
ASCOT
12.35pm Irish Hill
1.10pm Winds Of Fire
1.45pm Sonigino
2.20pm Molly Ollys Wishes
2.55pm Killer Clown
3.35pm Shishkin
4.05pm Charles Ritz
TAUNTON
12.58pm Outlaw Peter
1.33pm Man Of Light
2.08pm Molly Carew
2.43pm Leoncavallo
3.15pm Yala Enki
3.53pm Karakoram
4.25pm Reve De Niamh
LINGFIELD
12.45pm Daheer
1.20pm March Law
1.55pm Follow Your Heart
2.30pm Lucky Man
3.05pm Al Ameen
3.40pm Alba Rose
4.10pm Nefarious
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.30pm Red Evelyn
5pm Zameka
5.30pm Roxzoff
6pm Black Echo
6.30pm Swinton Noon
7pm Sophar Sogood
7.30pm Red Allure
8pm Dodgy Bob
SUNDAY’S NAP: Little Red Lion (3.35pm Lingfield)
