YOU have to hope that the weather does not scupper the Haydock card this afternoon, because it is an interesting day’s racing, headlined by the Peter Marsh Chase.

It is unlikely that the winner – whoever the winner may be – will be as impressive as last year’s winner Bristol De Mai was, it is unlikely that he will go on to win the Charlie Hall Chase and the Betfair Chase next year and reach a peak rating of 173. Even so, it is a high-class handicap chase and it is a fascinating race.

PROGRESSIVE

History tells us that the Peter Marsh Chase is as likely to be won by a young progressive staying chaser like Bristol De Mai as it is by a proven, hardened campaigner like According To Pete or Our Vic.

Yala Enki is only eight, but he has raced 15 times over fences and 27 times in total in his life. He is tough and he thrives on soft ground.

Pulled-up on his debut this season in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton, he put up a much better performance when he finished third behind Beware The Bear and Bishops Road in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in December.

It was disappointing on the face of it that Venetia Williams’ horse could not build on that run last time at Ascot, but that was on better ground, and he raced in cheekpieces for the first time. The headgear has been removed today, and he should be happier anyway back on much softer ground. He won the Tommy Whittle Chase last season, so we know that he can go well on heavy ground at Haydock, and he is back down to a mark of 147, just 1lb higher than the mark off which he won at Kelso last March. He is a player.

YOUNGER

Tintern Theatre and Forest Des Aigles are two of the more interesting younger contenders. Tintern Theatre was an impressive winner of a three-mile handicap chase at Kempton over Christmas, and a 4lb hike is not overly harsh, while Forest Des Aigles has won his last three.

However, Tintern Theatre is short, and he has failed to complete twice in just five runs over fences and Forest Des Aigles is up in class and he is now 21lbs higher in the handicap than he was when he completed the first leg of his hat-trick in early December. Also, neither horse has run at Haydock. We don’t know how either will operate on heavy ground there.

Rock The Kasbah is interesting, but he is 8lbs higher than he was when he won at Chepstow in October. He hasn’t run since, and he skipped the Welsh National because of the soft ground. It is unlikely that the ground will be any better today than it was at Chepstow two weeks ago.

The Dutchman is more interesting at a bigger price. The Kings Theatre gelding ran a cracker on his debut for Colin Tizzard when he finished second behind Sam Spinner in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on Betfair Chase day. He was well beaten by the winner in the end, but he was the only one who could get close to him in the home straight and he kept on well to retain second spot.

You would have liked to have seen the race work out a little better so far, a few of the horses who ran well there had performed below expectations since, but Sam Spinner was obviously an impressive winner of the Long Walk Hurdle, and is now favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle, while seventh-placed Le Rocher is three for three over fences since.

He admittedly finished alone in one of those chases and he was sent off at 1/10 in another, but he battled on well to get the better of the talented Three Musketeers in a graduation chase at Market Rasen on Wednesday.

The Dutchman was a little disappointing last time at Cheltenham, when he could only finish sixth behind Arthur’s Gift in a three-mile handicap hurdle. But that was his first run at Cheltenham and all his best form is on flat tracks.

He should be happier back at Haydock today and back on heavy ground. The fact that he put up one of the best performances of his life on heavy ground at Haydock on the only occasion on which he raced at the track, albeit over hurdles, is a significant positive. Also, he gets to race today off a chase rating of 135, the same as the hurdles rating off which he finished second to Sam Spinner.

This will be his first run over fences for Colin Tizzard, but he was at least as good over fences as he was over hurdles for Sandy Thomson. Also, he has raced just six times over fences, so there could be more to come from him now over the larger obstacles for Tizzard and he looks over-priced for today’s contest at 12/1.

ASCOT

It is interesting that Arthur Moore is sending Crossed My Mind back to Britain today for the Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.

J.P. McManus’ horse ran a cracking race at Sandown last month when he finished third behind A Hare Breath and Caid Du Lain. He travelled well into his race to the second last flight that day, but it appeared that he just couldn’t match the first two home for pace from that point. A mistake at the final flight didn’t help, but he still kept on well up the hill to retain third place.

He could be better suited by the step-up in trip today and by the softer ground. He does not have Barry Geraghty for company today, which is not ideal, but Jonjo O’Neill is good value for his 7lb claim, and the Beneficial gelding has raced just six times over hurdles, so he has the potential for more.

RECOMMENDED

THE DUTCHMAN, 1 point win, 12/1 (generally)

CROSSED MY MIND 1 point win, 6/1 (generally)