January 21 / 14.40 Haydock

14.40

Heavy

Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (A Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £42712.5
  • 3m 1f 125y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (A Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: P31P-4 CD

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
13yo who isn't the force of old, as evidenced by his fourth of five in the Betfair Chase over C&D in November, a race he has won three times; however, he still showed some spark in that Grade 1 and he's dropped to an attractive mark; excels on testing ground at Haydock and he's a major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

18th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Bristol De Mai

12st 0lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Three-time winner of the Betfair Chase here (3m, good/heavy); this 12yo isn't the force of old, as evidenced by his fourth place in that Grade 1 last time out, but he's dropped down the weights; awarded this race last year (winner demoted due to banned substance in sample) and he's respected.

11/2

Form: FP12-7 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in this last year but a case can be made on other form last season, including over C&D and on heavy ground; fair effort on last month's reappearance at Aintree, when 2m4f on good to soft was an insufficient test of stamina, and he's respected now back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:50 Carlisle

Empire Steel

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Very well handicapped on old form and returned from layoff with quite encouraging run at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) in January but ought to have been suited by the heavy ground when tailed off at Kelso last month and it's hard to know what to expect from him here.

5/1

5th

4

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

Empire Steel

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

12yo who wasn't the force of old last season but he's dropped down the weights and returned from an absence with an encouraging fourth at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago; could show the benefit of that latest outing today, especially now back at a track where he is four from six.

9/2

4th

1

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:11 Musselburgh

Empire Steel

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

12yo who wasn't the force of old last season and was pulled up last January when last seen; however, he can go well fresh and returns on a reduced mark and with his trainer enjoying a productive winter; not discounted.

6/1

Abandoned

Form: 112-20 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in the Becher at Aintree last month but may not have been suited by the big National fences; he was a progressive stayer on soft/heavy ground early last year and could still have more to offer; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

17th Mar 2025

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 4

14:20 Southwell

Dr Kananga

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Ben Clarke

Three chase wins, the latest at Sandown in February 2022 (3m, soft); creditable 14l third to a subsequent winner in a veterans' chase at Doncaster last time (3m, good); contender.

11/4

3rd

5

2nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

14:00 Doncaster

Dr Kananga

11st 4lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Ben Clarke

led, headed 13th, not fluent and dropped to last 5 out, rallied and went third after 3 out, soon no extra

8/1

10

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Dr Kananga

10st 8lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Ben Clarke

Not the force of old and his losing spell goes back to February 2022; pulled up in this race last year but runner-up on next two starts (3m2f/3m1f) and his front-running sixth in the 3m4f London National at Sandown eight weeks ago wasn't a bad reappearance; stamina not proven.

9/1

Form: 141-14 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Last season ended with a win at Lingfield (heavy) and she followed up on reappearance over C&D (heavy) in November when clear with subsequent Welsh National runner-up The Big Breakaway; solid fourth at Kempton (3m, soft) since and the extra emphasis on stamina now back here is a plus; strong claims for trainer who has won the last two runnings with Royale Pagaille.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Fontaine Collonges

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, slow jump 1st, towards rear 2nd

33/1

2

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Fontaine Collonges

10st 11lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

held up in rear, not fluent 2nd

16/1

2

27th Dec 2024

Soft

3m 6f 130y

Class 1

14:50 Chepstow

Fontaine Collonges

11st 12lb

T: Venetia Williams

Mightily impressive with a wide-margin win at Wetherby (3m, soft) last Christmas and same again at Haydock (extended 3m1f, soft; from Monbeg Genius) five weeks ago; her only run in between is a worry, though, as she weakened quickly from seven out in the Classic Chase at Warwick, and that was her second major failure to prove her stamina at about 3m4f/3m5f; throw in an 8lb rise since Haydock and some doubts creep in.

10/1

Form: P0-0P4 CD

Last run: 52 days

W: 10st 6lb

14 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row on heavy ground here (3m1f/3m4f) in December 2021; however, he struggled to get competitive on his five starts last year, including over C&D in November, and this 14yo has something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:25 Newcastle

Blaklion

11st 11lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

disputed lead

14/1

4th

2

30th Nov 2022

Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

15:07 Haydock

Blaklion

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

led, blundered 5th, pushed along and headed 4 out, weakened from 3 out

13/2

Form: P-2132

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Improved form when winning at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance and he's been placed the next twice (2m4f, good to soft/soft); this 3m point winner has run well over an extended 2m7f under rules and there are stayers in his pedigree, but this attritional race is a tough one in which to prove his stamina; wears first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Verdict

A small field for this historic race but it’s competitive nevertheless. Fontaine Collonges showed strong form when winning over C&D in November and is a very tempting option now back up in trip, having stayed on for fourth over 3m at Kempton last time. However, preference is for the 12yo BRISTOL DE MAI, who has excelled on heavy ground at Haydock over the years. He showed sufficient spark in the Betfair Chase over C&D in November to suggest he can take advantage of his reduced mark. Dr Kananga is capable of a bold bid with conditions to suit, while Empire Steel could also have a part to play.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bristol De Mai

The Times:

Fontaine Collonges

POSTDATA:

Empire Steel

D Express:

Dr Kananga

The Star:

Fontaine Collonges

RP Ratings:

Bristol De Mai

TOPSPEED:

Bristol De Mai

WEST COUNTRY:

Bristol De Mai

Telegraph:

Bristol De Mai

The Guardian:

Bristol De Mai

Daily Mail:

Bristol De Mai

Daily Mirror:

Bristol De Mai

The Sun:

Bristol De Mai

Daily Record:

Bristol De Mai