Peter Marsh Chase: runner-by-runner guide and tip

If there’s anyone who knows how to land a Sky Bet Peter Marsh Chase, then it is Sue Smith.

She’s scooped five of the past 20 editions, with The Last Fling (2000), Artik Jack (2004), Cloudy Too (2016), Wakanda (2019) and Vintage Clouds (2020) all doing the business in the £100,000 Haydock Park showpiece.

Smith seeks to improve her already fine record on Saturday, when she and and Joel Parkinson will be represented by Konfusion and, possibly, Grand Geste.

The former is ante-post favourite, while the latter impressed when winning at Haydock last month.

It looks like being a deep edition with Myretown and Mr Vango rerouted to Haydock after last week’s Classic Chase at Warwick was cancelled. Johnnywho and Resplendent Grey are other leading contenders, while course specialist Royale Pagaille is on track to try and win the race for a third time.

Here's a guide to all the possible contenders, with their RaceiQ Jump Index scores. 

RaceiQ Jump Index score: 6.8. Odds: 9-1.

The five-time course winner returns to his favourite stamping ground, seeking a third win in this race after previous victories in 2021 and 2022. 

He fluffed his lines in last year’s edition, when sent off favourite, but gave another reminder of his powers here when chasing home Grey Dawning in the Betfair Chase in November. The Gold Cup-bound winner toyed with him, but it was still a creditable effort, and he has nothing of that horse’s calibre to worry about this time. 

The 12-year-old will be running off his lowest handicap mark (159) since bolting up in this five years ago, off 156, but inevitably he has not got any quicker during that passage of time. 

It does not look like he’s going to get the deep ground he revels in and there are several progressive rivals among the opposition. Moreover, his stable remains quiet, with only seven winners this campaign and none in the past month. 

Jump Index score: 7.8. Odds: 5-1.

This looks like Plan C for Sara Bradstock’s giant, even though he is seeking to retain his crown. 

Plan A had been the Welsh National over Christmas, but he was a late runner because the ground was not deemed soft enough for him. Plan B was last weekend’s Classic Chase, at Warwick, only for the meeting to be beaten by the elements. 

So now it seems he’s heading back to Lancashire, provided he gets his favoured soft underfoot conditions. If the ground is not right for him, then Bradstock will have to find a Plan D. 

The problem is that the 3m1½f of this race is at the bottom end of his stamina requirement. 

He got away with it last year, when making all, but that was when he had a rating of 140 with the mud flying. He’s now up to 155 on likely better going, having followed up in the Midlands National and gone within a short head of landing the Becher Chase on his return. 

Anything other than a bold bid will be a surprise, but he may just be vulnerable unless the ground deteriorates. 

Jump Index score: 7.1. Odds: 16-1.

Last season’s bet365 Gold Cup hero is more of a bruiser than a cruiser and I just wonder whether Haydock, which is very much as a rhythm track, may not show him to best advantage. 

He never got going in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time, when admittedly a messy standing start did not help him. However, playing catch up cannot excuse a poor round of jumping, with the RaceiQ data revealing he lost 14 lengths in the air. 

The eight-year-old had previously made a winning return in the Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle, deserving extra credit given the 2m 4f trip was on the sharp side for him. He does have a good wins-to-runs ratio despite his lazy streak, which has encouraged connections to equip him with cheekpieces for his biggest assignments. 

Olly Murphy also has him entered for the richly endowed Fleur De Lys Chase over 2m 6f at Windsor on Sunday, but he would have to concede 4lb to Protektorat, who is officially rated 13lb superior, if taking up that engagement. 

Jump Index score: 6.9. Odds: 9-2.

It is surely only a matter of time before the JP McManus-owned Johnnywho lands a big handicap like this, and he could do with nudging up the ratings if he’s to guarantee making the cut for his stated aim, the Grand National, as his present mark of 146 is likely to be somewhere near the cut-off point (the lowest rated runner in last year’s race ran off 145). 

Johnnywho had last season’s Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase snatched from his grasp in the closing stages, and he was possibly not over that when a creditable fifth in the Irish Grand National on his next start. 

This season, he was an eye-catching fifth in the Grand Sefton at Aintree - getting in a sighter for April at the same time – before staying on strongly to be beaten a head and a neck into third to Deep Cave in the Silver Cup over 3m at Ascot last month after a mixed round of jumping. Just about everyone who keeps tracker horses would have jotted down his name into their notes. 

I imagine his connections would have appreciated a 2lb-3lb rise, but the handicapper has left them in limbo by pushing him up only 1lb. 

So, there is a lot riding on this race if Johnnywho is to run in the Grand National, for which the weights will be revealed in about a month. Even if disregarding the Aintree factor, you would have to think he has a lot going for him here. The extra yardage compared to Ascot will suit and he is less reliant on soft ground than several of his likely rivals, plus has a bit more speed in his armoury. 

Jump Index score: 6.7. Odds: 100-30.

Konfusion had a rating of only 92 this time a year ago and you would have got big odds on him ever running in a Peter Marsh, let alone being favourite for an edition. However, he’s been a revelation in the past 11 months, chalking up five wins and rising 53lb in the ratings. 

The front-runner has raised his game this season, especially on his past two starts when romping away with the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and then landing the Rowland Meyrick with plenty to spare at Wetherby. 

On the minus side, they were not strong editions of either race, with a 9lb hike for the latter success, gained at the expense of two other finishers, looking punitive. 

Before those victories, he was in the thick of the action here at Haydock only to stumble and unseated his rider. The chestnut is a good jumper and just got unlucky that day, but he is 20lb higher for his return visit. 

The ante-post favourite will need another career-best to keep up his winning spree but he represents a yard that has landed this prize five times this century and you leave him out of your calculations at your peril. 

Jump Index score: 6.8. Odds: 33-1.

His 34-length winning romp on bottomless ground in the Welsh National two years ago prompted talk of him possibly being a Gold Cup horse, but he’s been pulled up in five of his six subsequent starts and finished tailed off in the other. 

There have not been any flickers of a revival, although he has now tumbled back to the mark that he won off at Chepstow and he’s had first-time wind surgery since he was last in action at Cheltenham on November 16. He had his procedure just four days later. 

Nassalam was declared for the latest Welsh National over Christmas but was withdrawn because the ground was deemed unsuitable. It will be interesting to see if he stands his ground this time, and whether any money arrives for him after having his breathing tinkered with. 

Jump Index score: 6.6. Odds: 20-1.

This novice has had five runs over fences and yet to face more than three rivals, so this could be a bit of a shock to his system. 

He never won off a mark higher than 131 over hurdles and was beaten off 136 at Worcester in mid-September in his sole handicap chase, suggesting his mark of 144 for a conest such as this is on the high side. 

The eight-year-old has got that elevated rating after giving 5lb and a ten-length beating to the 140-rated Quebecois at Exeter in November, but he had more experience than the opposition and I fancy he was also at a fitness advantage. 

He was subsequently put firmly in his place by Salver in a Grade Two contest at Sandown and might not be that easy to place for a time. 

Jump Index score: 6.9. Odds: 100-30.

The Peter Marsh can take the best part of seven minutes to run but bookmakers could create a race within a race by betting on who will be in the lead after the second or third fence. 

Konfusion and Mr Vango are both front-runners, while Doyen Quest and Grand Geste often like to force the pace, too. And then there’s Myretown, who also likes to get on with things. One way or another, there’s not going to be any hiding places. 

Myretown made most of the running when an emphatic winner of the Ultima at Cheltenham in March, and he was also bossing things in the Coral Gold Cup on his return when falling at the ninth. 

His departure came as a surprise to some given that he had got into a good rhythm, but not to those who recall his exit on his point-to-point debut; his final flight departure at Ayr a couple of years ago; or his heavy tumble at Windsor this time a year ago. The Dylan Thomas gelding clearly has lapses in concentration, something that has also afflicted his high-class stablemate Ahoy Senor, another son of the same sire. 

Myretown did put it altogether when hammering a solid yardstick in The Changing Man by 11 lengths at Cheltenham. His new rating, which is 15lb higher, may not be beyond him, but he will have to avoid mistakes. 

Jump Index score: 7.3. Odds: 40-1.

He reeled off three handicap wins at Aintree as a novice last season and ran a cracker when runner-up at the Grand National meeting, too, when signing off for the campaign. 

The question now is whether he can squeeze out a bit more improvement, with his two runs this term suggesting the handicapper may be in control. 

He was underwhelming on his return in the Old Roan back at Aintree, when playing up before the start, and seemed to have no excuses when beaten at Cheltenham last time. 

Both of those runs were over about 2m 4f, which has suited him in the past, and he now has a second go over further. He often hangs to his left but will at least be going in the right direction. 

Jump Index score: --. Odds: 25-1.

He’s been declared to run at Wincanton on Thursday, so I think we can leave him out of calculations. Richmond Lake is in the same ownership. 

Jump Index score: 7.6. Odds: 20-1.

He chased home Jonbon in the Rossington Main at this meeting four years ago and was a fine third to Mr Vango in this race last year, having also won at the track in between those efforts. 

You can certainly make a solid case for him when studying the weights and measures as he is 23lb better off with Mr Vango compared to 12 months ago and has only three lengths to find with him. 

It’s not that straightforward, though, as Richmond Lake ended last season under a cloud and has begun this term with successive defeats, extending his losing sequence to a dozen races. 

That said, he did shape well on his return on heavy ground at Bangor before fading, and dropping back to 2m 4f probably did him on favours at Aintree last time. If he can build on those efforts, back at a track which clearly suits him, then he cannot be discounted at chunky odds. 

Jump Index score: 7.5. Odds: 12-1.

The grey was a dazzling all-the-way winner of the Tommy Whittle over course and distance on soft ground last month, jumping superbly and winning by 6½ lengths from My Silver Lining easing down. 

That was just his third run over fences, and first over a staying trip, with RaceiQ illustrating his relish for the bigger obstacles and extra distance. He got a Jump Index score of 8.4 out of 10 and gained almost 21 lengths getting from A to B. 

The winning time was also noteworthy, not being much slower than Mr Vango recorded in last year’s Peter Marsh (when the ground was also assessed as soft). 

Before that exhibition, Grand Geste had been pipped by Alcedo over 2m 4f at Newcastle, with Breizh River 11 lengths back in third. The winner has gone close to following up, while the third has since landed a valuable prize at Musselburgh. 

The niggles are that he must compete off a 14lb higher mark assuming Royale Pagaille lines up (he went up 10lb in the ratings for his win and is 4lb wrong at the weights) and, as outlined earlier, there looks like being a bit of a bun fight for the lead. 

And, perhaps most significant, co-trainer Joel Parkinson suggested on Wednesday he would miss the race if he is out of the weights, with the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham his main aim. 

Jump Index score: 7.6. Odds: 20-1.

Had turned into something of a win machine in the JP McManus silks before bombing out badly at Chepstow last time. That was very much a halt in progress. He would be 8lb wrong if trying to get back on track here. He also has entries Windsor, Lingfield and Doncaster over next week or so, so beware playing ante-post on him. 

Jump Index score: 6.9. Odds: 20-1.

She’s a smashing grey mare but been winless since her Classic Chase victory two years ago. Was no match for Grand Geste here last time and, 13lb wrong at the weights, would be only 1lb better off. I’d expect her to instead head to Windsor on Sunday, where she can run off her correct mark. 

Jump Index score: 7.4. Odds: 40-1.

Finished behind Grand Geste and My Silver Lining here last time and is languishing 15lb out of the handicap, so would not be eligible to run as things stand. He’s another also entered at Windsor on Sunday and that would look a better fit. 

This looks a cracking renewal, with JOHNNYWHO having plenty going for him. Grand Geste’s double-figure odds caught the eye, but it seems he will not be running. Richmond Lake looks the most interesting of those at chunkier odds.