Can Royale Pagaille defy top weight and prove a Grade 1 horse in a handicap?

2.40 Haydock
Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Grade 2) | 3m1½f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Monkfish might head the market for Susannah Ricci in the Festival Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, but according to Racing Post Ratings the owner has an equally smart novice in Royale Pagaille.

Monkfish recorded an RPR of 160 when landing last month's Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown and Royale Pagaille achieved exactly the same figure for his victory in a 3m handicap chase at Kempton’s Christmas fixture.

It begs the age-old question: is Royale Pagaille a Grade 1 performer in a handicap?

'The Riccis said to get in touch if I found a nice horse. I'm delighted I have'

The Kempton form is certainly strong. Royal Pagaille and runner-up Cap Du Nord pulled 19 lengths clear of the third Double Shuffle, who was successful in a Kempton handicap chase himself a couple of weeks ago. The Kings Writ, who finished seventh, went close in the Somerset National on Thursday and Royale Pagaille didn’t just win, he did it on the bridle.

He's up 16lb and will need to be a Grade 1 horse to lump top weight to victory around Haydock on heavy ground, but he is the most exciting horse to line up in this in recent years.

Let’s not forget this was once a recognised Gold Cup trial that has been won by some of the greats and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility it might throw up a Gold Cup contender this year should Royale Pagaille be the first topweight to win since Cloudy Lane in 2009.

The Peter Marsh has been dominated by lower-weighted runners in recent years and that gives you an idea of the task facing Royale Pagaille. Six of the last seven runnings have gone to horses carrying less than 11 stone and that includes Samstown, who won off 10st 5lb in 2015.

Royale Pagaille’s two biggest dangers contain Sam in the name. Sam Brown won the Grade 2 novice chase on this card 12 months ago, but will still carry 11st 1lb, even taking into account Ben Godfrey’s 5lb claim, so maybe the lighter-weighted Sam’s Adventure is a bigger threat.

Sam’s Adventure won the Tommy Whittle here last month and bids to become the first horse since Cloudy Lane to complete the double. Even he didn’t do it in the same season, though.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Could Royal victory earn ticket to the biggest ball of all?

The instantly recognisable pink silks of Susannah and Rich Ricci may not be pink for very long, but it seems a case of the more mud the merrier for the Royale Pagaille.

It was heavy for his last trip to Haydock and he could hardly have been more impressive in beating Espoir De Romay by seven lengths.

It was not quite as heavy, but still soft, when he powered home to take a competitive handicap chase at Kempton over Christmas.

That performance was smothered in staying power. The further he went, the better he looked, so it was no surprise to see him cut to 10-1 for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham afterwards.

The Festival Novices' Chase could surely be an option too, but the Riccis have Monkfish for that, so could he turn up in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which he got a speculative entry this month? Victory here could hand him a ticket to the biggest ball of all.

Trainer Venetia Williams said: "He's got plenty of weight to give away and it's a bit of an increased trip from the last time he was at Haydock. We're hoping for another progressive run from him."

What they say

Anthony Honeyball, trainer of Sam Brown and Acey Milan
Sam Brown won the novice chase on the card last year and will like the ground. He'll be fine over the trip. He's got to be a good horse to win off his mark but he ran to that sort of figure first time out at Carlisle, and when he's good he's very good. Acey Milan has got a nice light weight and has lots of class. He goes on heavy, stays well and won at Aintree so there's plenty to like about his chance. He didn't really fire at Plumpton last time and I don't know what was wrong but we haven't found any problem with him and he looks to have a good chance.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Crievehill
He always runs very well. He wouldn't want the ground too testing, but we're happy with him and hopeful of a good run.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Sam's Adventure
He went up 6lb for winning last time, but I thought he won well enough. He'll enjoy the ground and he likes the track, so we're hoping for a big run.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of Lamanver Pippin
He's got to bounce back as he was a bit disappointing at Chepstow. He seems in good form now and he's got a lovely racing weight. The trip is going to take an awful lot of getting, but he stays all day.
Reporting by David Jennings

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