The Peter Marsh Handicap Chase is a Grade 2 Limited Handicap for runners aged 5 years and older which is run over 3 miles and 24 yards at Haydock.
The race has produced some fine Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup winners over the years including Little Owl (1981), The Thinker (1987) and Jodami (1993).
In 1997, a 12-year-old Jodami came back to Haydock as a former Gold Cup winner and took top honours for a second time.
The 1995 winner, Earth Summit, went on to win the Aintree Grand National three years later in 1998, and many trainers now use this race as a National prep.
Race Trends & Statistics
9/9 winners had run at least twice already that season and 5/9 had registered at least one win.
9/9 had won on ground described as soft or worse previously.
9/9 Carried between 9st 11lbs and 11st 3lbs.
8/9 had a rating of 135 or higher.
7/9 had run at Haydock Park previously with 4/9 having at least one win there already.
1/9 favourites/joint-favourites have won with 3/9 winners coming from the top three in the horse racing betting markets.
Runner-By-Runner Guide:
Valtor (N. Henderson)
Somewhat of an unknown quantity last time out, having done all of his racing in France, but he demolished his rivals in the Garrard Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot.
A repetition of that run would make him a difficult adversary here and he should give his owners, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, a great day out.
For the long term, the 10-year-old, who finished sixth in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in May, was purchased specifically with the 2019 Grand National in mind so this will be the acid test for that project.
One For Arthur (L. Russell)
One For Arthur has only raced once since his Grand National triumph in 2017. But his long-awaited comeback ended in an early disappointment when he unseated jockey Tom Scudamore at the third fence in the Many Clouds Chase back at Aintree.
Otago Trail (V. Williams)
Finished runner-up in this race two years ago behind Bristol De Mai. Admittedly he was 22 lengths behind the winner that day, but in the context of Bristol De Mai’s impeccable Haydock record it was a great run.
His seasonal return at Newcastle in the BetVictor Rehearsal Chase behind Lake View Lad was very promising but then the eleven-year-old flopped in his next outing in the Garrard Silver Cup.
Venetia Williams has a fine record at Haydock Park so ignore this runner at your peril.
Wakanda (S. Smith)
It could be highly significant that Sue Smith has decided to send the ten-year-old to Haydock this Saturday, rather than sending him to Doncaster next week to defend his Great Yorkshire Chase crown.
Wakanda was a winning novice at Haydock Park in 2015 and has since landed four Listed handicap chases.
Robinsfirth (C. Tizzard)
The ten-year-old Robinsfirth will have to defy a 400-day absence if he is to claim this contest.
He has not raced since he took a handicap chase at Cheltenham in December 2017, but has having proven he can go well fresh in the past and the Grand National is also the plan for him, so connections will be looking to achieve a good mark.
Daklondlike (D. Pipe)
Daklondike was the game winner of the Tommy Whittle Chase here last month, staying on stoutly in the closing stages to take the prize.
He will have another 6lbs to carry for that win and one would expect that he would really have liked the ground conditions significantly softer.
The seven-year-old wears a visor again which appeared to work the oracle last time.
Captain Redbeard (W. Coltherd)
The ten-year-old boasts an excellent record at the course with form figures reading 312123. As you can see he has never finished outside of the first three in six attempts at Haydock Park, including when second behind The Dutchman in last year's race.
Once again, another crack at this year’s Grand National is on the agenda.
Chase The Spud (F. O'Brien)
Won the Midlands Grand National in 2017 and followed that up with another facile victory here on heavy going.
However in his four runs since, he has been pulled-up three times and has finished next to last once. When the chips are down he really isn’t putting it in at the moment.
Red Infantry (I. Williams)
Previous course winner Red Infantry drops down in trip after finishing second in the London National Handicap Chase at Sandown Park at the beginning of December.
He is related to Red Marauder and is very much a staying chaser and connections are hoping he will one day be a Grand National hope.
Three Musketeers (D. Skelton)
The nine-year-old gelding found Venetia Williams’ Aso far too difficult to live with last time and was comprehensively beaten by him at Newbury at the end of November.
He has had a sizeable break since but has not won now for two years.
Ballyarthur (N. Twiston-Davies)
Went down by a length to Daklondike in the Tommy Whittle Chase and comes into this race on a rather favourable weight.
The nine-year-old has won three times in his career but never in a race that has contained seven or more runners.
Ballydine (C. Longsden)
Ballydine, a winner of three races from his 11 starts, who was second at Newbury at the end of last month following a fifth place at Newcastle in the Rehearsal Chase.
That run behind Carole's Destrier in Newbury’s Mandarin Chase has worked out well after the Neil Mulholland runner ran a close race behind Impulsive Star at Warwick last weekend.
CONCLUSION:
Another competitive renewal of the Peter Marsh Chase but a narrow preference goes to the Sue Smith-trained Wakanda.
Smith is a three-time winner of this race since the turn of the millennium and the targeting of this race, rather than the one at Doncaster next Saturday, sways the decision for us here at 888sport.
888sport suggests: Wakanda e/w
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
