Keith Melrose on Bristol De Mai's chances of a seventh Haydock win

Saturday: 2.40 Haydock
Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Grade 2) | 3m1½f | 5yo+ | ITV3/RTV

Although often lamented as a lost Gold Cup trial, for the last 15 years the Peter Marsh has benefited from being free from such a weighty association. That is the inference from looking at historical precedents for this thin field of six.

Small fields were commonplace at the turn of the century, but between 2006 (Betfair Chase winner Kingscliff ran off 169) and last year (Royale Pagaille won off 163) only once did the race produce a single-figure field. That this year there are so few runners, without a proper Gold Cup type to scare off those rated 140 or lower, changes the dynamic of the race.