Valuable Challenger Final next on agenda for Marcius

Although the richest pickings of the jump season are on offer at Cheltenham and Aintree, there is one other meeting that is well worth targeting and that is final of the Challenger Series of races which takes place at Haydock on Easter Saturday.

There are six events, each worth £50,000, that are for horses rated 135 or less. Having qualified at Kelso in December, the 2m handicap hurdle final is the target for Caius Marcius, who warmed up for it in good style with his first win of the year.

It didn't look that likely at the second last when Our Thomas held a clear lead, but Craig Nichol brought him late to win by a length.