There are three other Grade 2 races on Peter Marsh Chase day at Haydock this Saturday, and the chief supporting race to the big limited handicap is the 2m Champion Hurdle Trial (14:40). Named in honour of four-time winner The New One this year, Silver Streak heads the betting and official figures as five line-up.
Trained by Evan Williams, this six-year-old is the sole course and distance winner in the field and can gain compensation at 7/4 with William Hill for running two big races in defeat at the end of last year. Silver Streak progressed through handicaps last season to land the Grade 3 Swinton here in May when produced late to win going away by three-quarters of a length.
He followed-up on that with another victory on reappearance in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las. Silver Streak was then held just a neck giving 26lb away to Nietzsche in the Greatwood at Cheltenham and tried to give Brain Power 4lb in the International Hurdle there last time out.
This son of top Flat sprinter Dark Angel simply couldn’t get to the winner, but was far from disgraced as a 1 3/4 lengths runner-up. As Silver Streak meets Western Ryder, who was fourth in the International, off the same terms, there is no reason why he won’t confirm the form.
It’s a similar story with Dan Skelton’s subsequent Betfair Exchange Trophy scorer Mohaayed, who is 1lb worse off with the favourite from their Greatwood meeting. Gerry Feilden winner Global Citizen has 6lb to find on BHA ratings with Silver Streak for Ben Pauling and Colin Tizzard trained Pingshou is worst off on official figures and at the weights.
Mister Fisher can give weight all-round and reign Supreme
Before the Champion Hurdle Trial is the Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (14:05), an official trial itself for the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival. Mister Fisher is all the rage for in-form champion trainer Nicky Henderson, so is fancied to give 3lb to his five rivals and take the step up into graded company.
A Kempton bumper and novice hurdle winner, the five-year-old son of Jeremy was just touched off a short-head close home on his bow over the obstacles at Newbury. When you consider Ecu De La Noviere had a 5lb claimer aboard, then Mister Fisher was far from disgraced.
He left than run behind when shaken up to lead after two out and in command to score by 2 3/4 lengths in a class 2 contest last time out. Although there’s nothing between Mister Fisher and Bright Forecast from Pauling’s yard on these terms, the Henderson stable is in far better form.
Idee De Garde chased home Champagne Platinum on very soft ground at Newcastle when last in action for Team Skelton, but this demands more. The same can be said of Williams’ impressive Uttoxeter scorer Esprit Du Large, while this looks too sharp a trip for point-to-point recruit Tricks and Trails.
With French import Muratello an unknown quantity on debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies, the suggestion here is a forecast bet with Mister Fisher being chased home by Bright Forecast. Paddy Power are a best-price 4/5 about the favourite and 5/2 for the selected second place.
Le Breuil worth an each-way bet in Altcar
Earlier on the card is the 2m 4f Altcar Novices’ Chase (13:30), and Le Breuil looks worth chancing each-way. Trained by Pauling, any wager is placed in the hope that Jerrysback, who also holds an entry in an Ascot handicap, lines up on Merseyside.
While Philip Hobbs and JP McManus’ runner tops official figures and commands respect after chasing home the unbeaten Vinndication in an Ascot Grade 2, Le Breuil has been very consistent in four outings over fences. They include an impressive 18-length success on chase debut at Huntingdon and when an unlucky neck loser to Count Meribel at Cheltenham.
The seven-year-old was then far from disgraced when beaten 7 3/4 lengths in third behind Santini and Rocky’s Treasure in a Grade 2 at Newbury over 3m. As the runner-up came out and won in the grade at Doncaster, the form has a solid look to it. Santini was also a 3 1/2 lengths third to La Bague Au Roi in a Grade 1 over Christmas, so that reads well in the context of this much easier contest.
Le Breuil was then runner-up back at Cheltenham last time out. His form is arguably of a higher level than that achieved by Skelton entrant Crucial Role, while Tizzard trained Slate House is still unexposed as a chaser after one start.
Charlie Longsdon mare and Wincanton winner Castafiore has plenty to find even accounting for the 7lb sex allowance, so Le Breuil looks a solid each-way bet.
