Tag Archive for: Haydock

Royale Pagaille handed Haydock redemption mission

Royale Pagaille will return to Haydock for the track’s Grand National Trial after a rare blip at his beloved venue earlier this month.

A dual winner of the Betfair Chase at the Merseyside venue, including when outstaying Grey Dawning in the Grade One event in November, Venetia Williams’ veteran often saves his best for his trips to Lancashire.

He had a rare off-day in the Peter Marsh earlier this month when his jumping fell apart on quicker ground than preferred, but the Herefordshire handler is confident he can now bounce back to his best at a course where he has won five of his seven starts.

Williams said: “He came back with a couple of overreaches but not as bad as he has encountered in the past. He made a very bad mistake, which he can do, going down the back and slightly lost his confidence.

“Each time he’s been beaten at Haydock it has been in the two fastest races he has run in, which is obviously a reflection on the ground. But all being well he will head there next month for the Grand National Trial.”

Royale Pagaille is one of only five British-trained entries for the Gold Cup along with Cotswold Chase-winning stablemate L’Homme Presse, but Williams has sounded a note of warning about his participation in the blue riband, preferring to get the 11-year-old’s next appearance out of the way first.

She added: “We’ll see about the Gold Cup, but as I always say, it is one race at a time.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Dedicated Hero reigns supreme as Royal Infantry misfires

Dan Skelton was almost lost for words having watched his 1-4 favourite Royal Infantry finish only fourth behind Dedicated Hero in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

Previously one of the UK’s main hopes for the Cheltenham Festival opener, he is now out to as big as 66-1 with some bookmakers.

He had fared best of the Brits in eighth in the Champion Bumper last March and had won both his starts over hurdles, but he was in trouble three furlongs from home on this occasion and Harry Skelton had accepted defeat by the last.

There were three in a line jumping the last but all the momentum was with Sandy Thomson’s Dedicated Hero (6-1), who swamped Cloonainra and Peacenik to win by half a length.

Grand National winner Ryan Mania was on board and said: “We always knew he was a nice horse but today was about finding out just how good.

“I was niggling at the end of the straight because he found the track a bit sharp but he stayed on all the way to the line. I kept getting squeezed, but he dropped back enough to switch out and once he got a bit of daylight, he was away. I just hope Ruby Walsh wasn’t watching because I dropped my whip!

“The original plan was the Premier Hurdle at Kelso, as he’s won twice there, and then maybe Aintree – we haven’t really talked about Cheltenham. This is great for Sandy and the team. We’ve been missing a really good one since Seeyouatmidnight and hopefully this lad can nearly get there.”

Dan Skelton said of the beaten favourite: “He was hanging a bit left and didn’t travel so well down the back, it’s just one of those days.

“Harry said he was a bit keen after making the running last time but it was nothing dramatic.

“He put himself in a difficult spot two out and from that point it was unrecoverable.

“Fair play to the ones that have beaten us, they’ve done very well. Nothing looks horrendous, he’s just underperformed, but it is a bad day to underperform.”

Margaret’s Legacy (9-4) made it two from two for Warren Greatrex in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap Chase.

Greatrex, who is enjoying a good spell at present, admitted he is presented with challenges by the eight-year-old but currently he is handling them with aplomb.

Warren Greatrex accepts congratulations as Margaret's Legacy returns
Warren Greatrex accepts congratulations as Margaret’s Legacy returns (Nick Robson/PA)

He held off Ned Tanner by two and a quarter lengths to give Harry Bannister a nice winner.

“He was with Tim Vaughan but came to me with Tim’s blessing, the owners still have horses with Tim,” said Greatrex.

“He has his issues and his jumping scares me to death but Harry says it doesn’t feel too bad on board!

“Tim struggled to get him fit but we’ve got a swimming pool and he spends a lot of time in that, which helps. There’s no doubt he’s got a serious engine.”

Dianne Sayer’s Bertie’s Ballet (13-2) is a Haydock regular and claimed a second course victory in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap Hurdle.

“We’ve been looking after him and building his confidence but today was the day he had to become a man,” said Sayer.

“I’m now training out of Stoneriggs (Cumbria), where my mum (Evelyn Slack) and Ken (Slack) trained.

“This is my first runner since the move, so for him to win, I’m over the moon.”

Solar System (7-2 favourite) continued the good recent run of Philip Hobbs and Johnson White in the Sky Bet Club Handicap Hurdle.

Micheal Nolan and Solar System provide the Hobbs/White stable with another winner
Micheal Nolan and Solar System provide the Hobbs/White stable with another winner (Nick Robson/PA)

Micheal Nolan was on board the JP McManus-owned six-year-old, who managed to stay ahead of the handicapper despite a 4lb rise for a win at Ludlow.

He needed to survive a stewards’ inquiry after getting close to I Am Max and the winning distance was only a short head.

Nolan said: “He travelled very well and jumped super. He’s very keen but he is starting to relax.

“When he goes over fences, he’ll be seen to better effect again.

“We got a bit close near the line but it was just tight racing.”

Uncle Bert won again for James Turner
Uncle Bert won again for James Turner (David Davies/PA)

Uncle Bert (10-1) looks much happier over the smaller obstacles and landed his fifth win in the Sky Bet Cheltenham Non-Runner No Bet Handicap Hurdle, his third for conditional James Turner.

He said of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ eight-year-old: “I’ve got a good strike-rate on him. He’s done it nicely – three miles, he just keeps going. It’s easy on him, bounce him out and he just keeps going.

“I was very confident he’d keep going. In the second half of the race, I thought he was going too well and I was probably there too soon, but he was tough.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Mr Vango powers to Peter Marsh victory at Haydock

Mr Vango made every yard of the running to lift the Sky Bet Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.

Trained by Sara Bradstock and ridden by Jack Tudor, Mr Vango was last seen winning the three-and-a-half-mile London National at Sandown last month and with his stamina assured, connections were eager to make it a real test.

Bill Baxter was an early casualty when unshipping his rider on the first circuit and Royale Pagaille, who was bidding for a third win in the race under a top weight of 12st, made a couple of notable mistakes that put paid to his chances and saw jockey Charlie Deutsch pull him up at the top of the home straight.

While others wilted under the testing conditions, Mr Vango and former Welsh National winner Iwilldoit thrived over the extended three miles and one furlong on soft ground, battling it out over the final two fences.

However, Mr Vango pulled ahead before the final obstacle and maintained his gallop to the line, registering a three-length victory at 4-1, with Iwilldoit just holding off the determined late spurt of Richmond Lake to take second.

Bradstock said: “He’s such a fantastic horse. He can’t go any faster but he keeps going.

“He wasn’t quite over Sandown by the time of the Welsh National so we missed it. He’s an absolute giant so you don’t want to take him racing if he’s not spot on.

“We’re praying for the wettest spring ever so we can run him in the National, but I’d only run him on heavy ground – Red Marauder style – as he wouldn’t be able to lay up with them on anything quicker. That’s the dream.

“He just copes with those bad conditions, probably because he’s so big.”

She went on: “He’s a horse who was really helped by covid. He didn’t run at four because he was too big but he probably would have gone pointing at five but there wasn’t any, so he had all that time.

“Somebody wanted to run a competition once to see how big he is, but I said we couldn’t as I genuinely have never been able to find a stick big enough to measure him! He must be over 18 hands, he’s definitely the biggest racehorse I’ve ever seen.

“It’s only his sixth run over fences but he will only ever run when it is soft enough.

“If it’s heavy at Uttoxeter for the Midlands National, and it doesn’t look like being soft enough at Aintree, we’d run where it’s going to be soft enough for him.”

Bradstock took over the training of Mr Vango following the death of her husband, the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning handler Mark, in March last year.

She added: “That’s my first runner here in my own name, Mark is obviously looking down on us. He wanted us to carry on and we’re loving it.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

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.

Royale Pagaille with connections at Haydock
Royale Pagaille with connections at Haydock (Mike Egerton/The Jockey Club)

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.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Heavy ground key to Mr Vango’s Haydock hopes

Sara Bradstock is eyeing typically attritional Haydock ground ahead of Mr Vango’s return to action in Saturday’s Sky Bet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase.

The nine-year-old notched the third victory of his career in Sandown’s London National early last month, a victory that put him in line for a shot at the Welsh Grand National over the Christmas period.

Given extra time to recover from his Sandown exertions, he bypassed Chepstow’s festive feature which was this year run on ground better than usual, with Warwick’s Classic Chase soon highlighted as the new target for the lightly-raced stayer.

However, this time it was the early January cold snap that intervened and with the Classic Chase lost to the elements, a trip to Haydock is seen as the only real option in the coming weeks by connections.

Bradstock said: “It really is a case of if the weather plays ball, because the Classic Chase looked a good opportunity for him on what was going to be heavy ground. It’s disappointing they didn’t reschedule it and if they had taken it to Ffos Las, I would have been inclined.

“We’ve given him the entry at Haydock and obviously three miles would be a little bit short for him, so it would want to be heavy. Dan (Cooper, Haydock clerk of the course) is quite confident that is what it is going to be, so I think that’s the plan really.

“He does want it heavy otherwise three miles is too short, he has to have a test of stamina. There isn’t really anything for him now until the Edinburgh National (at Musselburgh, February 2) which is unlikely to be very soft ground.

“Just niggling little things have kept him off, he just wasn’t quite over Sandown for the Welsh Grand National, but then the ground would have been too quick anyway. Then we got the ground we wanted for the Classic Chase but it was abandoned – it’s been extremely annoying, but that’s life.”

Mr Vango in action at Sandown
Mr Vango in action at Sandown (Steven Paston/PA)

While the current weather may be causing Bradstock some headaches, the hope of a wet spring is leaving the Wantage handler clinging to her dream of a Grand National tilt in early April.

“Hopefully there will be a very wet spring and that could be to Mr Vango’s liking,” continued Bradstock.

“Plans will all depend on what happens at the weekend and if he was to go up in the handicap. I would give him an entry in the National but I wouldn’t run him unless it was heavy, otherwise he might end up in the Midlands Grand National.

“I would have him in at Aintree just in case you get Red Marauder-type of ground and they do have to keep it safe, so if there is a downpour you never know. But he is an old-fashioned National horse and the race might be a bit fast and furious for him these days.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Val Dancer being lined up for Haydock Grand National Trial

Val Dancer could be next seen strutting his stuff at Haydock in the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase after his Welsh Grand National heroics.

Mel Rowley’s eight-year-old arrived at Chepstow for the track’s Christmas feature in top form having won his prep race at Carlisle, and emerged best from the fog that limited visibility on the day to see off Sam Thomas’ pair of the fancied Jubilee Express and previous winner Iwilldoit.

Having come out of the race in rude health, he could now head to Merseyside in search of further riches in the staying chase division on February 15.

“He has come out of the race extremely well, I’m delighted to say,” said Rowley.

“At the moment, he’s telling us he’s well up for it. We’re going to give him a reasonable amount of time on the easy list, but I guess we would be thinking of something like the Grand National Trial at Haydock for him.

“It’s over a similar distance but a very different track, so that will be interesting. But Haydock can be attritional if we get wet weather and he does seem to act well in the soft. I think that will be the obvious target, but we will be dictated to by him.”

The Rowleys are no strangers to success, with Mel’s husband Philip saddling Hazel Hill to win at the Cheltenham Festival, while their Shropshire base is the place where top-class talents such as Sprinter Sacre spent their formative years.

The jubilant Val Dancer team
The jubilant Val Dancer team (David Davies/PA)

However, Chepstow proved a day to remember for Mel Rowley and the obvious highlight of her time in the professional training ranks since taking out a licence at her family’s Poplar Cottage Farm stables.

“It was by far our biggest success and I think the only regret is that we might have already worn out the tape replaying the race, but of course there is not a lot to see,” continued Rowley.

“We just have to imagine what it would have been like! But it was amazing and everyone has been so kind with their congratulations.

“For the team, it just makes all the hard work worthwhile, as those sort of days don’t happen to us that often. It’s important we make the most of them – and rest assured, we did that weekend.”

Rowley also revealed Val Dancer has been revelling in his festive triumph and was a willing star of the show when paraded at a local point-to-point in the days following his Chepstow win.

“A couple of days later, he was asked to go and parade at the point-to-point and a lot of the point-to-point jockeys got very excited,” quipped Rowley. “I think they thought they might have a chance of a free ride in the men’s open!

“He was very full of himself and his own self-importance and is sound as a pound and has eaten up well since Chepstow. It was all very, very positive, which was fabulous.”

Val Dancer (right) in action at Chepstow
Val Dancer (right) in action at Chepstow (David Davies/PA)

Rowley went on: “There are plenty of horses in training but those Saturday high-profile horses don’t come along that often, so how lucky are we.

“We had Wishing And Hoping, who very much wore his heart on his sleeve and was ‘catch me if you can’ from the front, but Val Dancer is very different and he came to us so shy and had so little confidence in his own ability – and literally a shell.

“He could only improve and I think this year he has really come of age and is completely different in his personality and demeanour and can now be actually quite fresh and spicy at home.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Saint Xavier rolls back the years with Haydock strike

Richard Hobson’s veteran campaigner Saint Xavier left a brief retirement behind him to do the stable proud when landing the Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase at Haydock.

The gelding will be 13 years old on New Year’s Day and after a extensive career in both France and England, he was put out to pasture by his owner and trainer after a few below-par efforts during 2023.

A quieter life did not suit him and after a 342-day break he resumed his career at Fontwell in November to finish fifth in the Southern National, after which he was fourth in a veterans’ chase at Lingfield in early December.

He lined up at Haydock a 9-1 chance under 5lb claimer Charlie Maggs when returning to a staying trip, jumping neatly and staying on resolutely to come home two and three-quarter lengths ahead of another 12-year-old in Nicky Martin’s The Two Amigos.

“He’s the horse of a lifetime for me,” said Hobson.

“He’s won a major race for me in France, in my colours as his owner and trainer (Prix de France).

“He’s done it twice at Haydock, he’s been unreal. He’s won over £320,000 in prize money.

“We retired him because he’d had a stellar career and after one or two disappointing runs over a year ago, I decided I didn’t want to see him slide down the handicap.

“He just did not enjoy retirement, he hated every second of it, but the nine months off did him the world of good.

“He was totally refreshed and ever since being in work again, he has not looked back.

“I’m absolutely buzzing, it’s really fantastic to think that he can come back at the age of nearly 13 and do that.

“I just wish I’d had him in his younger years and maybe we could have reached higher heights, but he’s a credit to a yard with a small team of horses.

“I don’t know what I’ll do with him now, I just want to enjoy today. They’re hard to come by, these old servants, and to see him come back and do what he’s done is brilliant.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Egbert digs deep to grind out Tommy Whittle victory

Egbert showed endless reserves of stamina to stay on strongly and win the Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock.

Showing the benefit of his seasonal debut at Exeter, Alan King’s seven-year-old demonstrated a real liking for the extreme test.

He made no impression in the Scottish Grand National last season but with another year on his back, he looks like being a major player in some top staying contests later in the season.

However, he did only look booked for a place at best when Jacks Parrot streaked clear and seemingly had the race in the bag.

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s five-year-old, racing off bottom weight, appeared sure to collect at the second last.

However, the petrol gauge was soon running on empty and given a sniff, Egbert (16-1) and Gavin Sheehan stormed past to win by four and a quarter lengths, with 10 lengths back to the favourite Famous Bridge in third.

Sheehan told Racing TV: “He was brilliant. I couldn’t have him in the ground and I was going to pull up with a circuit to go.

“He kept on plugging on and he got a new lease of life turning in for some reason and he came alive for me.

“From there, I thought we could nick a place, but the further along we were going, the better he was getting.

“At the last he was good and brave, and all the way to the line I was getting more and more confident.

“He ran over four-one last year. He’s got all the ability, it’s whether he’s on song on the day. I enjoyed that today and I’m sure he did.”

Sheehan then doubled up on Jamie Snowden’s Milldam (5-2) in the Betfred Hat-Trick Heaven Handicap Hurdle.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Holloway Queen enhances reputation with Haydock win

Holloway Queen maintained her unbeaten record under rules with an ultimately smooth victory in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

Second in her only point-to-point before joining Nicky Henderson for £180,000, she beat a dual bumper winner in Jasmine Bliss on her hurdling debut.

Sent off the 4-5 favourite raised in class to Listed grade on Merseyside, Nico de Boinville, on his only mount of the day, was content to take a lead from Kelya Wood until the pace picked up at the third last.

However, while the leader flew it, the favourite made a bit of a mess of that obstacle and was suddenly facing an uphill task.

It speaks volumes for her ability, though, that within a matter of strides, De Boinville was back on the bridle upsides Kelya Wood and seemingly going the better.

She put the race to bed on the run to the last, although Fromheretoeternity was beginning to stay on strongly when coming down at the last flight, which left Kelya Wood a 15-length second.

The winner was given a 25-1 quote for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham by Paddy Power.

De Boinville told Racing TV: “We met the third last all wrong but she seems to be able to quicken up nicely in this ground. It’s hard work but she seems to like it.

“The idea early doors was I didn’t want to let the one in front get too far ahead of us and it worked out nicely in the end.

“She’s got a bit of character. Jerry McGrath bought her and he’s done well, she’s a good find.”

Asked if the Jane Seymour Hurdle at Sandown could now be a target, the jockey added: “I don’t know where we are going to go but that sounds like the right sort of programme.”

Henderson said: “She was very, very good. Especially as ground like that is not usually my cup of tea.

“She’s an amazing mare, as she shows you nothing at home, but Nico says she just lobs along and today she changed gear three times, which in that ground is quite extraordinary.

“That mistake she made, in that, would stop most horses, but she was back on the bridle in no time.

“I’d have thought the Jane Seymour looks the obvious place, it will be slow ground and she looks a stayer to me. I think it might be a case of running her while the ground is how she likes it, what happens in the spring on good ground, I don’t know.

“I think we should stick to what we know for now.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Tommy Whittle chance for Surrey Quest this weekend

Surrey Quest could bid to get back on the winning trail in the Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

The Toby Lawes-trained seven-year-old was beaten a nose by Macdermott in a thrilling finish to last season’s Scottish Grand National and again occupied the runner-up spot on his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham last month.

Connections warned Surrey Quest would need the run on his Prestbury Park comeback, so there was huge encouragement to be taken from his performance in again finishing second to the ill-fated Abuffalasoldier after charging home from the rear.

Lawes is hoping his star chaser can step forward if given the green light to make the trip to Merseyside this weekend.

“He worked well yesterday and has come out of it well. We’re just waiting to see if the rain comes and how the ground is shaping up, but we’re certainly going to have a good look at Saturday,” he said.

“I’d quite like to try him on genuine soft ground and see how we go. I think he should handle it, it looks a nice race and I’d be quite keen to test him round Haydock as well.

“He took a couple of blows with Kevin (Brogan) at Cheltenham so he was just trying to have one big run at the end and we were absolutely delighted. He’s got a tremendous attitude, not many horses have the attitude to be able to do that from being sort of solo turning in at Cheltenham.

“He looks to have improved. He’s taking more work this year than he did last year. He did so well over the summer and got stronger and stronger, so I was aware coming into the season he was going to take a bit more work and he looks to have taken a step forward from his run.”

Having gone so close in the Scottish National last term, a tilt at Grand National glory at Aintree could be on the cards in the spring, but Lawes is not looking too far ahead at this stage.

He added: “He’s probably almost going to have to win twice to get in at Aintree and I’ve always said to the lads if we get there organically we’ll go, but let’s not force it.

“There’s so many great races for horses like him. The National is there if we happen to get there, but you’ve got races like the Midlands National and obviously the Scottish again in the spring, so there’s lots to look forward to.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Royal Infantry marches on with impressive Haydock romp

Dan Skelton is excited to see how far Royal Infantry can go this season following a dominant display in the TrustATrader Approved And Reviewed Tradespeople ‘Introductory’ Hurdle at Haydock.

Best of the home team when eighth in last season’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, the five-year-old made a winning start to his hurdling career at Chepstow four weeks ago and was a well-backed 11-10 favourite to follow up on Merseyside.

His supporters will have had few concerns, with Royal Infantry sent straight into the lead by the trainer’s brother Harry Skelton, having his rivals on the stretch from before the home turn.

Market rival Crest Of Fortune did his best to stay with the leader in the straight, but Royal Infantry soon found another gear to put further daylight between himself and the chasing pack, with eight and a half lengths the winning margin.

Paddy Power cut the winner’s odds for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to 20-1 from 40-1 and his trainer will now raise his sights on his next start.

“He’s obviously pretty good – winning a Listed bumper last year, it goes without saying,” said Skelton.

“I was just really happy to see him go about it in a very professional manner. We had to make our own running, which is sometimes a luxury and sometimes a hindrance. On this occasion, I think it was a luxury. He was in a good rhythm, but he wasn’t getting hassled.

“Turning in, it just took him four or five strides, but once he dropped into that gear to pick up, he was off then – I think that was the most impressive bit really.

“I don’t know if the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day, the old Tolworth, might come a bit soon, but if it did, he could come back here for the Rossington Main.

“He handles that (soft) ground, but he’ll be fine on better. It’s a great luxury to have a good one because they normally don’t complain about the ground!”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

White Rhino charges into Cheltenham contention

Connections of White Rhino have Cheltenham Festival aspirations after he maintained his unbeaten record over fences with an impressive display at Haydock.

Trained in partnership by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, the eight-year-old won five times over hurdles, including a victory at Cheltenham 12 months ago.

Having won on his introduction to the larger obstacles at Ayr a month ago, Henry Brooke’s mount was a 7-2 chance to follow up in the TrustATrader Apply Today Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and drew four and a quarter lengths clear of the runner-up President Scottie.

There was a sad postscript to the race, with 9-4 favourite Beneficially Yours fatally injured in a fall three fences from home.

Of the winner, Guerriero said: “He just keeps improving and he was always going to be a better chaser, just because of the size of him.

“He’s done that really well. To be honest I thought it looked a very competitive race and I was worried we were just creeping up (in the weights) all the time and we can’t keep winning, but he’s definitely a stronger horse this season.”

The National Hunt Chase and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase were raised as possible targets for the Festival in March and White Rhino could have an early sighter of the Cheltenham fences next month.

“We might go to Cheltenham in January for one of the trials or I think there’s a three-mile handicap chase there for him,” Guerriero added.

The Alan King-trained Ski Lodge carried the Noel Fehily Racing colours to success in the Watch On Racing TV Maiden Hurdle.

Ski Lodge and Tom Bellamy after winning at Haydock
Ski Lodge and Tom Bellamy after winning at Haydock (Ashley Iveson/PA)

The Chepstow bumper winner disappointed on his hurdling bow at Ffos Las last month but showed his true colours on Merseyside, knuckling down after the final flight to see off the promising point-to-point recruit Jo Coko by a length and a quarter.

“There were a couple of nice horses in that race and we like our horse. He won his bumper at Chepstow nicely and we were hoping for that sort of performance today,” said Fehily.

“I think he ran a bit back to front the last day – he was too keen early and did too much and just ran a bit green. He was much better today, he settled well and Tom (Bellamy) gave him a good ride.

“He’s a good, tough horse. Whatever he does over hurdles, he’s a chaser for next year.”

Cloudy Glen in the Haydock winner's enclosure
Cloudy Glen in the Haydock winner’s enclosure (Ashley Iveson/PA)

Cloudy Glen (11-8 favourite) rolled back the years with a popular success in the trustatrader.com Veterans’ Handicap Chase.

The 11-year-old had not managed to get his head in front since his career-defining win in what is now the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in 2021, but proved the fire still burns bright with a seven-and-a-half-length verdict under Charlie Deustch.

“I’m really pleased for him because he gave me a very special day and he’s enjoyed himself round there today, which is the main thing,” said Deutsch.

“These races give horses like him an opportunity. You hear of so many horses who win a big handicap and you never hear of them again. He really enjoyed himself, jumped well and it’s nice to have him back.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Royale Pagaille gives Rich Ricci landmark winner in Betfair Chase

Royale Pagaille might not be the best horse to carry the familiar pink and green colours of owner Rich Ricci, but he can lay claim to being the toughest after a successful defence of the Betfair Chase provided the ebullient owner with his 100th Grade One winner.

The Venetia Williams-trained 10-year-old is at his best when the mud is flying on Merseyside, as evidenced by a total of four wins from five previous course appearances.

He was an emphatic winner of the Betfair Chase 12 months ago – and while he fractured his shoulder on his only subsequent appearance when falling in Cheltenham’s Cotswold Chase in January, he returned to his favourite stomping ground as a well fancied 11-4 shot after heavy rain turned conditions in his favour.

It was clear from an early stage Royale Pagaille was in his element as he set his own fractions in front under his regular partner Charlie Deutsch.

Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning, one of last season’s star novices and the 15-8 favourite, loomed up looking a big threat in the straight and looked set to prevail after poking his head in front on the run to the final fence.

Royal Pagaille, though, was having none of it, battling back on the level to wrestle back the lead and he was two lengths in front where it mattered.

Owner Rich Ricci after winning the Betfair Chase with Royale Pagaille
Owner Rich Ricci after winning the Betfair Chase with Royale Pagaille (Mike Egerton/The Jockey Club)

Ricci said: “It’s fantastic. It was brilliant. The rain came and Venetia has done a brilliant job with him. Willie has won 98 of the 100, but this meant a lot doing it here as I love Haydock. The people here are great.

“He’s not the most talented and probably wouldn’t win the Gold Cup, but his record here is amazing. I heard Grey Dawning had gone past him and I thought he would finish second, but Charlie said he just asked him again and went past him again. It’s just unbelievable.

“The way he dug in after the last was amazing and you just dream of these moments. It would have been nice if Willie had done it (trained 100th winner) because he’s done 98 of them, but it will keep him on his toes as well!”

There is no doubt Royale Pagaille does not possess the latent talent of Ricci greats such as Annie Power, Faugheen and Vautour, but he clearly holds a special place in his heart.

“A lot of the horses we’ve had have been incredibly talented and while he’s talented too, he’s sort of a journeyman. He tries hard and that’s important to me and I thought it was great,” he added.

“You can make as much money as you want, but you can’t buy thrills, happiness and emotion and that is what this sport brings, good and bad.

“We’ve had some great days and some horrible days and it’s these things you live for, that’s why you’re in the game and I love it.”

Trainer Venetia Williams celebrates at Haydock
Trainer Venetia Williams celebrates at Haydock (Mike Egerton/The Jockey Club)

Williams, who enjoyed a double on the card and a winner at Ascot following two winners at the latter venue on Friday, was similarly proud of her stable star’s performance, adding: “It’s unbelievable because he was beaten wasn’t he? He’s had to do all the hard work and was being a bit careful at the obstacles, but he’s not beaten until he’s beaten.

“He’s horse we’re obviously very proud of and I’m thrilled Rich has got a very nice horse to carry his colours in this country.

“I bought him as a four-year-old and he’s very much homegrown. I knew in the summer that Rich wasn’t far off his 100th winner and it was mentioned it would be rather amusing if it occurred here!”

Considering future plans, she added: “We’ve got options. He’s been second in a King George and he would have been back here last year for a third Peter Marsh but it was abandoned. I know it’s a handicap, but that’s obviously an interesting option.

“It’s quite clear that ground is key for him to be at his very best and you don’t often get that after February and into March, but you never know – it might be different this year.”

Grey Dawning leads Royale Pagaille at Haydock
Grey Dawning leads Royale Pagaille at Haydock (Ian Hodgson/PA)

Fierce competitor Skelton admitted to being “gutted” by Grey Dawning’s reverse, but is excited to see what the rest of the season has in store.

“I’m gutted to get beat, but at the end of the day the winner is a hard horse to beat and I take my hat off to him. It looked like we had him beat, but he found a little bit more,” he said.

“I don’t know if we didn’t quite stay the last 50 yards or whether it was the ground. I’m sure he stays, because if he doesn’t stay who does? It is pretty attritional ground.

“He’s improved on last year, that’s for sure. He has to have improved on last year, look what he’s just done.

“It’s disappointing to get beat, but I’m delighted with the horse. The way he jumped on the way round was superb and I think there’s plenty to come. ”

The trainer immediately ruled out a tilt at the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, adding: “Christmas will be too soon by probably six weeks, there’s no way you’ll see him at Christmas.

“I’m not hitting the panic button and saying that’s our ceiling. We’ll go home and get him right and you mightn’t see him for a while now, for obvious reasons.

“I have no idea where we will go and with respect I think it’s inappropriate to ask because the horse has just put that on the line.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Royale Pagaille battles to second Betfair Chase success

Royale Pagaille battled back gamely to see off young pretender Grey Dawning and win a second Betfair Chase at Haydock.

In conditions not meant for the faint hearted, Royale Pagaille relished the mud but looked booked for second when, having made all the running, he was overtaken on the run to the final fence by Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning.

However, the Cheltenham Festival winner met the last fence all wrong at the end of a gruelling three miles, losing all momentum in the process.

Charlie Deutsch then sensed a second chance on Venetia Williams’ 10-year-old, and he rallied to his great credit to get back up and win by two lengths.

A faller when last seen in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January, he has been nursed back to full health by Williams and in his favoured conditions, he takes some beating.

The race was reduced to just seven runners with Hewick and The Real Whacker taken out on account of the testing ground, while Ahoy Senor never looked happy.

The two Irish challengers, Limerick Lace and Capodanno also failed to get involved as Royale Pagaille, Grey Dawning, the French raider Gold Tweet and, a few lengths off those, Bravemansgame dominated the last mile.

Gold Tweet began to weaken from three out and eventually got caught for third by Bravemansgame, but those racegoers who braved the weather were threated to a real thriller by the first two.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Charles Byrnes on target again as Shoot First strikes for Haydock gold

Shoot First ploughed through the Haydock mud to ensure the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle went to Ireland for the second year in succession.

While the Emmet Mullins-trained Slate Lane delighted favourite backers in the £100,000 contest 12 months ago, Shoot First was actually a big drifter in the market for Charlies Byrnes, eventually going off a 22-1 shot in the hands of 5lb claimer Alex Harvey having been a single-figure price overnight.

In a race run in deteriorating conditions, Harvey elected to take his time during the early stages of the extended three-mile contest before bustling his mount into contention at the top of the straight.

He took over the lead from Phantomofthepoints at the third flight from the finish, after which the 11-4 favourite One Big Bang emerged as his biggest threat.

But try as he might, the market leader could never quite get on terms with Shoot First, who boxed on tenaciously to win the day by two and three-quarter lengths.

The winner had finished fifth on his most recent outing at Galway last month after being off the track for two years and clearly improved for the outing, much to the delight of his young rider.

“He ran great in Galway after a two-year break. He jumped and travelled there today, but he’s still a big raw baby and pricked his ears when he hit the front. I think stepping up in grade he’s going to be even better, so he’s an exciting horse and will jump a fence in the future,” said the 21-year-old.

“It was a proper test, it was his first time on soft ground and he relished it, so it’s great.

“Charles is very good at placing his horses and we could see him in March (at Cheltenham) given he won there two years ago.

“I’ve had a couple of winners in Kelso for John McConnell, who I’m based with six days a week, so I make the odd trip over and it’s great when it all works out like today.

“This is the biggest winner of my career so far and I’m delighted.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns