ROYALE PAGAILLE can secure a record third victory in the Sky Bet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.30pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon – if the meeting passes a precautionary inspection at 8.30am in the morning.

Venetia Williams’ Haydock specialist can land the 3m1½f feature and win for a superb sixth time at the Merseyside track. The Rich Ricci-owned 11-year-old has become a real Haydock specialist having sealed five of his six career chase successes at the track. He won the Peter Marsh Chase in 2021 and 2022 with the only other horse to land the former Grade Two contest twice being 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Jodami, who triumphed before that success at the Cheltenham Festival and again in 1997. Although the gelded son of Blue Bresil could only finish fifth and sixth in his own two cracks at the blue riband at Prestbury Park in 2022 and 2023, he has also won at the top level and both were at Haydock. Royale Pagaille, under Charlie Deutsch, scored for a second successive season in the Betfair Chase in November while he was also second in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day in 2022.

His latest Haydock win in the Betfair means he is now up to his highest career mark of 166 and with the Peter Marsh now downgraded to a handicap gain, he must give lumps of weight to his rivals with a couple running from out of the weights. But he is the class act of the contest, comes alive at Haydock and will get the testing conditions he thrives on. He can outstay his rivals and score again at Haydock.

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The biggest dangers to the selection could be the Harry Derham-trained Imagine, who despite being pulled up on his first start for the stable since his switch from Gordon Elliott's yard, has the potential to be a smart staying chaser. While another mud-lover, the Sara Bradstock-trained Mr Vango – who won the London National Handicap Chase at Sandown on his most recent start – could also go close.

ROYAL INFANTRY can make it three wins from three starts over obstacles with victory in the Grade Two Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.55pm). And with it, the six-year-old can book his ticket to the day one opener, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle itself, at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Royal Infantry followed up his debut success over hurdles at Chepstow with a superb success over course and distance last month. He looks a very smart young hurdler and can continue his unbeaten start over obstacles with another success at Haydock.

OH MY JOHNNY can win the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap Hurdle (12.45pm). The Philip Hobbs and Johnson White-trained five-year-old bounced back from a fall at Bangor to land a first success over obstacles on his third start at Uttoxeter last month. He can back that up with another success at Haydock.

Merseyside-born, Cheshire-based trainer Donald McCain may land a winner at one of his ‘home’ tracks with BLUE FIN in the Sky Bet Club Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier) (1.20pm). The eight-year-old is back hurdling having seen his chasing career abruptly ended after three relatively disappointing efforts last season. He won at Carlisle on his return to the smaller obstacles in October and was third at Haydock last month. Blue Fin looks capable of going very close to victory stepped up in trip to 2m5f.

Warren Greatrex’s recent Southwell scorer MARGARET'S LEGACY should back that win up in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap Chase (Go North Monet’s Garden Series Qualifier) (12.10pm); while the Olly Murphy-trained KILBARRY HILL can bring up a fourth straight success this season in the Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Qualifier) (3.05pm); and Venetia Williams’ THE FAMOUS FIVE – who scored at Newbury over Christmas – can land the finale, the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Chase (3.40pm).

At Ascot JONBON can come out on top of the blockbuster clash with Energumene in the Grade One BetMGM Clarence House Chase (GBB Race) (3.32pm). Nicky Henderson’s nine-year-old was superb in winning the Tingle Creek for a second successive year at Sandown last month. He also starred in the Melling Chase over 2m4f at last season’s Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse. He was beaten in this race last year, but when he’s on is game – which is most of the time – he is the star two-mile, two-mile-plus chaser around.

Willie Mullins’ Energumene is another smart performer and won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2022 and 2023. He was off the track for 593 days before returning to win a Grade Two at Cork last month. He will bid to go one better than when beaten by Jonbon’s stable-mate Shishkin in a race for the ages in this Ascot contest in 2022. And it may be the same outcome this time as Henderson’s star Jonbon denies him again. But hopefully it will be another thrilling contest.

Henderson’s new French recruit LULAMBA – who scored over hurdles on his only start for Arnauld Chaille-Chaille at Auteuil in October – can make a winning debut for the Seven Barrows handler in the BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (12.30pm).

Venetia Williams’ recent Taunton scorer IN D'OR can win again in the BetMGM Handicap Chase (1.05pm).

Willie Mullins’ KARGESE can win the BetMGM mares’ Hurdle (Registered As The Warfield Mares’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (1.40pm). The dual Grade One winner will be eyeing a crack at the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. And she can make a winning return to action before heading to Prestbury Park.

Venetia Williams’ MARTATOR can grab another victory at Ascot in the Bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.15pm). The eight-year-old has won all three starts at Ascot over the past year and stepped up to an extended 2m5f, he can continue that fine record at the Berkshire track.

DODDIETHEGREAT can bounce back from being pulled up at Kempton over Christmas to win the BetMGM Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.50pm). Nicky Henderson’s nine-year-old was pulled up after the first having been spooked by a rival veering badly at the start forcing him to be slowly away and being well behind his rivals. He had had one run over fences before that but Henderson has returned Doddiethegreat to the smaller obstacles. He is 2lb below his last winning mark over hurdles and may be able to take advantage to score for a first time since winning at Ascot in November 2023.

Alan King’s I’M A LUMBERJACK can back up victory at Warwick last month with another in the finale at Ascot, the BetMGM EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race) (4.02pm).

At Taunton the Jane Williams-trained FAST BUCK can win the Samaritans Of Taunton And Somerset Handicap Chase (2.40pm). Others who can score at the Somerset track are Neil Mulholland’s BADBURY RINGS in the Try RacingTV Free Now At racingtv.com/freetrial Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2.05pm); the Olly Murphy-trained DOMINIC'S FAULT in the Somerset County Gazette Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.15pm); and SAFE DESTINATION, from the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable, in the Join Racing TV Now Handicap Chase (3.50pm).

On the all-weather at Wolverhampton Michael Mullineaux’s veteran DODGY BOB, who pops up from time to time at big prices, may do just that and win Division One of the Betmgm: It’s Showtime Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (4.30pm).

Wright Ones

HAYDOCK PARK (precautionary inspection 8.30am Saturday)

12.10pm Margaret’s Legacy
12.45pm Oh My Johnny
1.20pm Blue Fin
1.55pm Royal Infantry
2.30pm Royale Pagaille
3.05pm Kilbarry Hill
3.40pm The Famous Five

ASCOT

12.30pm Lulamba
1.05pm In d’Or
1.40pm Kargese
2.15pm Martator
2.50pm Doddiethegreat
3.32pm Jonbon
4.02pm I’m A Lumberjack

TAUNTON

12.55pm Just A Rose
1.30pm Jena D’oudairies
2.05pm Badbury Rings
2.40pm Fast Buck
3.15pm Dominic's Fault
3.50pm Safe Destination
4.20pm Nobody’s Perfect

LINGFIELD

10.15am Red Flyer
10.45am Honour Your Dreams
11.15am Night On Earth
11.45am Humam
12.15pm Many A Star
12.50pm Urban Sprawl
1.25pm Charlotte’s Web

WOLVERHAMPTON

4.30pm Dodgy Bob (NAP)
5pm Plumette
5.30pm Evocative Spark
6pm Sir Joseph Swan
6.30pm Al Waqidi
7pm Admirable Lad
7.30pm Starsong
8pm Red Walls
8.30pm Jujubella

SUNDAY'S NAP: Matata (Windsor 1.55pm)