January 18 / 14.30 Haydock

14.30

Heavy

Sky Bet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56950
  • 3m 1f 125y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
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Sky Bet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 313P-1 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Very lightly raced 9yo who bolted up at Exeter (3m6f, heavy) last February on his second chase start and tapped back into that abundant promise to win the London National at Sandown (3m4f, soft) last month; stamina will be at a premium today, which will be in his favour, and he could have more left in the tank; one to consider off a mark 5lb higher than last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Mr Vango

10st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Mrs Sara V Bradstock

Usually goes well in the mud; last season's hat-trick culminated in the 4m2f Midlands National and he rallied to go very close against Twig in the 3m2f Becher over these fences on first outing this term; while there was so much to admire to that point, he's cracked with alarming speed in 3m and 4m1f races on his last two outings.

66/1

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Mr Vango

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Mrs Sara V Bradstock

Hugely the class act in this field and last season's hat-trick culminated in the 4m2f Midlands National; rallied to go very close in the Becher at Aintree (3m2f) on first outing this season; he wasn't going almost immediately once headed (fairly early stage) last time, which is a nagging worry despite that race being over just 3m; soft or heavy ground is ideal but there's no doubting his strength in stamina and that factor is key.

7/1

1

31st Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Mr Vango

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Mrs Sara V Bradstock

Needs soft/heavy ground; grand stayer who completed a notable hat-trick (3m1f-4m2f) last term, culminating in Midlands National win; went very close in the Becher Chase at Aintree (3m2f) in sole outing this season, showing further progress on the figures; the weather has interrupted plans since; respected, with a slog at the trip on the cards.

13/8

OUR TIP

9/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 2335-3 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Won the Welsh National (3m6f, soft) in 2021 and the Warwick Classic (3m5f, heavy) in 2023; now 12 but he was a fine third in the Welsh National (3m6f, soft) three weeks ago and his surplus stamina may be no bad thing today; possible player if this doesn't come too soon after his hard Chepstow race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Iwilldoit

11st 3lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Lightly raced since Welsh Grand National success in 2021 but a commendable third in this season's edition of that race (3m6f, soft) in December and again ran very well at Haydock (3m1f, soft) in January; drying ground will reduce his appeal but he has possibilities if he enjoys this new test.

20/1

2nd

3

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Iwilldoit

10st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Won the Welsh National (3m6f, soft) in 2021 and the Warwick Classic (3m5f, heavy) in 2023; now 12 but he was a fine third in the Welsh National (3m6f, soft) three weeks ago and his surplus stamina may be no bad thing today; possible player if this doesn't come too soon after his hard Chepstow race.

9/1

2nd

3

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Iwilldoit

10st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Won the Welsh National (3m6f, soft) in 2021 and the Warwick Classic (3m5f, heavy) in 2023; now 12 but he was a fine third in the Welsh National (3m6f, soft) three weeks ago and his surplus stamina may be no bad thing today; possible player if this doesn't come too soon after his hard Chepstow race.

9/1

14/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 9F0-42 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
This is a tough race, in terms of both conditions and opposition, in which to try to prove his stamina (unproven beyond 2m5f); however, his last two wins have come on heavy ground, there are stayers in his pedigree, and he arrives in good form; each-way claims if seeing out the trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Richmond Lake

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

10yo whose 13-race losing sequence goes back to December 2023 but he's run some good races in the meantime (including on soft), most recently staying on for a neck second in the Peter Marsh here (extended 3m1f, good to soft); on that evidence he's well worth a crack at a marathon trip.

8/1

2nd

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Richmond Lake

10st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Ran really well when third in this last year (soft) and kept on for second at Aintree (2m4f, soft) last month, albeit no match for the winner; this 10yo has a good record here and, now 8lb lower than 12 months ago, he could be involved back up in trip.

10/1

Form: 23F-14 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Promising novice chaser last season and his reappearance win in a graduation chase here (2m5f, soft) represents strong form; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles; merely fourth off this mark when back in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month but it was still a reasonable performance on ground that may not have been ideal; respected now back on testing surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Trelawne

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Well-backed 5-1 shot in this last year only to fall early (a stablemate won); 8lb higher this time; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles and this second-season chaser reappeared with a win in a graduation chase at Haydock (extended 2m5f, soft) in November; fair efforts when fourth in handicaps the next twice (3m/3m1f, good to soft/soft) but needs something extra today.

25/1

4th

2

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Trelawne

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Promising novice chaser last season and his reappearance win in a graduation chase here (2m5f, soft) represents strong form; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles; merely fourth off this mark when back in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month but it was still a reasonable performance on ground that may not have been ideal; respected now back on testing surface.

7/2

4th

2

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Trelawne

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Promising novice chaser last season and his reappearance win in a graduation chase here (2m5f, soft) represents strong form; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles; merely fourth off this mark when back in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month but it was still a reasonable performance on ground that may not have been ideal; respected now back on testing surface.

7/2

Form: /114-P

Last run: 63 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 7yo who won a Grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown (2m, soft) in November 2023 for Gordon Elliott; it's very early days for him with his up-and-coming trainer and he stayed 2m4f over hurdles, but there's a big stamina question to answer today and he was pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November on his seasonal and stable debut; others have less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Imagine

11st 8lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Ex-Irish 7yo who has contested three handicap chases for new stable, looking a non-stayer over 3m1f on second occasion but that's far better than his 2m4f/2m5f races either side; dropped 6lb in the process and he now wears a tongue-tie and cheekpieces, both for the first time.

10/1

3rd

1

14th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

15:20 Kelso

Imagine

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Ex-Irish 7yo who has raced in two major handicaps for new stable, non-stayer over 3m1f latest; had some strong pieces of form for previous yard and, with that in mind, looks interesting back down in trip/grade.

5/2

5th

4

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Imagine

10st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Lightly raced 7yo who won a Grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown (2m, soft) in November 2023 for Gordon Elliott; it's very early days for him with his up-and-coming trainer and he stayed 2m4f over hurdles, but there's a big stamina question to answer today and he was pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November on his seasonal and stable debut; others have less to prove.

12/1

Form: F/1F-1 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 166

Form & Verdict
Now an 11yo and has to concede lots of weight all round but has a phenomenal record at Haydock, winning the last two runnings of this race in 2021 (heavy) and 2022 (soft), as well as taking the last two runnings of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase (the latest two months ago); could be tough to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Royale Pagaille

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Five-time course winner including this race in 2021 and 2022 and the Betfair Chase in 2023 and 2024; reappeared with fine second in that Grade 1 here 56 days ago (good to soft); struggled last season after his reappearance win but this 12yo could have a big say if backing up his latest effort.

13/2

2

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Royale Pagaille

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

All wins on soft or heavy; he's been a class act at Haydock but did not show it in two visits there this year, including on his second attempt at a marathon trip, and his sixth in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup was a remote one; some conspicuous negatives.

80/1

2

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Royale Pagaille

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

All wins on soft or heavy; he's been a class act at Haydock but did not show it in two visits there this year, including on his second attempt at a marathon trip, and his sixth in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup was a remote one; some conspicuous negatives.

80/1

Form: 1P88-P D

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 4lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Now just 2lb higher than for 13l win in the Becher Chase at Aintree (3m2f, heavy) in December 2023 and he's not totally written off; however, this 13yo has been a long way below his best on his last four starts and a major turnaround is needed; cheekpieces return, in which he's run well in the past.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Chambard

10st 5lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Won 2022 Kim Muir here (3m2f, soft) and produced career-best performance when scoring by 13l over the big Aintree fences last season (3m2f, heavy); badly out of form this term, though, and this new discipline needs to rekindle his enthusiasm; 6lb out of the handicap.

100/1

7th

1

10th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 4f 102y

Class 3

15:45 Plumpton

Chambard

12st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

towards rear, headway on outer after 10th, lost ground after 15th

25/1

7th

1

10th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 4f 102y

Class 3

15:45 Plumpton

Chambard

12st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

towards rear, headway on outer after 10th, lost ground after 15th

25/1

Form: 6U-P25

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Stayed this far over hurdles and he won the Topham Chase at Aintree (2m5f, soft) in April 2023; however, he's 0-9 since and faces a tough assignment today from 9lb out of the handicap; others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Bill Baxter

10st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

10yo won this last year off 126 (yielding); mixed bag this term, undergoing wind surgery after third start and good comeback run when second in 3m Kelso handicap in February; mistakes when pulled up in Topham at Aintree but remains of interest.

12/1

22

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Bill Baxter

10st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Warren Greatrex

10yo who won this in 2023 (soft); he's had his ups and downs since but won at Punchestown (3m, yielding) last May and bumped into a well-handicapped novice when runner-up at Kelso (2m7f, heavy) last time, following wind surgery; could give a good account and be involved.

25/1

2nd

2

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

Bill Baxter

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Uncharacteristically below par at Market Rasen four weeks ago; however, he's had a wind op since and two starts ago he ran pretty well when sixth in the Becher at Aintree (3m2f, soft); this is less competitive than that penultimate assignment and he won here in 2022 on his sole previous run here.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £33.80
Straight Forecast £46.79
Tricast £323.78
Trifecta £162.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Royale Pagaille

The Times:

Mr Vango

TOPSPEED:

Trelawne

LAMBOURN:

Imagine

Telegraph:

Mr Vango

The Guardian:

Mr Vango

The Star:

Mr Vango

Daily Record:

Mr Vango

D Express:

Trelawne

RP RATINGS:

Royale Pagaille

POSTDATA:

Royale Pagaille

Daily Mail:

Royale Pagaille

Daily Mirror:

Royale Pagaille

The Sun:

Royale Pagaille