Pagaille team confident ahead of Peter Marsh hat-trick bid

Royale Pagaille bids to continue his love affair with Haydock by claiming a third victory in the Sky Bet Peter Marsh Chase on Saturday.

The 11-year-old has won on five of his six visits to the Merseyside circuit, his only defeat coming at the hands of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard in the 2021 Betfair Chase.

The Peter Marsh has been abandoned in each of the past two seasons, but Royale Pagaille was victorious in 2021 and 2022, making him the third dual winner after Jodami and General Wolfe, and he returns for the hat-trick bid off the back of successfully defending the Betfair Chase in November.

Joe Chambers, racing manager to owners Rich and Susannah Ricci, said: “Royale Pagaille is going back to his favourite stomping ground on Saturday. He has a lot of weight to carry and give away, given the change in the race conditions.

“We’ll see how he gets on, but he is probably favourite for a reason and hopefully has more than a favourite’s chance at his favourite track.”

Royale Pagaille heads an eight-strong field and must concede upwards of a stone all round, but Chambers is nevertheless expecting the veteran to prove hard to beat.

He added: “He is not facing the same calibre of horse that he met in the Betfair Chase. The ground has improved a little, but as long as it’s suitably hard work, hopefully he’ll be able to lumber 12st round and see the featherweights off.

“I think Haydock suits him well because it has long straights and not many undulations.

“This is actually his third Peter Marsh in a row but obviously the weather has meant it hasn’t taken place for the last two years.

“We are revelling in the quirkiness of his affinity with Haydock. The local crowd are very loyal and seem to have taken quite a shine to him.”

Royale Pagaille’s seven rivals include Sara Bradstock’s London National winner Mr Vango, the Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls-trained Trelawne and Sam Thomas’ Welsh Grand National third Iwilldoit.

The meeting is subject to a precautionary inspection at 8.30am due to the threat of frost, with temperatures forecast to drop below freezing overnight.