Peter Marsh Chase: 'It's his favourite track - we're hoping for great things'

Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Grade 2) | 3m1½f | 5yo+ | ITV3/RTV

Perhaps they should rename it the Petra Marsh: the women have been unbeatable in this traditional January highlight of late.

Sue Smith won it with Wakanda in 2019 and Vintage Clouds the following year, giving her a record five victories in a contest whose roll of honour includes Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Little Owl, Bregawn, The Thinker and Jodami.

And Venetia Williams is on the verge of equalling Smith's tally, having struck with Royale Pagaille in the past two seasons to add to previous successes with General Wolfe (1999) and The Outlier (2007).

King George VI Chase runner-up Royale Pagaille has loftier targets now and his trainer relies this time on Fontaine Collonges, a mare with a generally progressive profile who won here in November and then finished fourth at Kempton.

Royale Pagaille: won the first of two Peter Marsh Chases in 2021Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"She's a course-and-distance winner but this is a step up for her," Williams said. "I hope she'll run well.

"At Kempton last time she overstretched for one down the back and slightly lost her pitch at that point. She got going again later on but by then she was too far behind."

Can Bristol channel old spirit?

Few horses thrive in the Haydock mud as much as Bristol De Mai, who has won six times from nine visits to the track – with four of those victories coming on heavy ground.

He won this contest by 22 lengths in 2017, returned to land the Grade 1 Betfair Chase three times and has also been awarded last season's Grand National Trial on the disqualification of The Galloping Bear owing to a banned substance.

Bristol De Mai: wide-margin winner of the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in 2017Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's his favourite track and he's in very good form, so we're hoping for great things," said trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. "He ran fine first time out."

Bristol De Mai has an alternative option in Sunday's Fleur De Lys Chase and the trainer said: "He'll go to Lingfield if Haydock is off. The ground is all right wherever he goes and he ran a really good race at Lingfield last year."

What they say

Sandy Thomson, trainer of Empire Steel
He isn't the easiest to train but is fit and well. Two and a half miles round Aintree was too sharp for him and he has some good form at Haydock, so he deserves to take his chance.

Ben Clarke, trainer of Dr Kananga
This has been the plan since he missed the The Last Fling Chase at Haydock at the end of December. He'll be suited by the track and is in great form. A couple of things weren't quite right for him in the Becher Chase but they're on his side this time and we hope he'll run a solid race.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Blaklion
He's a teenager but he loves the track, the trip is no issue and he's got no weight. He's taking on better horses but you'd probably prefer to be here with him than anywhere else.

Stuart Coltherd, trainer of Cooper's Cross
He's up in trip and the ground's on the soft side, which are two unknowns, but I think he'll stay and handle the ground okay. If it all clicks he should run a big race. He's been running well and has a nice weight.

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