We have only the seven runners for this year’s Peter Marsh Chase as fears continue to take hold among the British racing public regarding field sizes.

A lack of horse population may be the reason on the flat as horses are sold abroad. But in the jumping game, it seems trainers have the ammunition and continue to show a dislike for using it even this far out from the Cheltenham Fesitval as that meeting takes total precedence.

There may be some Cheltenham Festival horses in this small field. Royale Pagaille won this race in 2021 and 2022 while it was cancelled in 2023. He runs again and carries 12st at the top of the weights.

There’s £100,000 up for grabs in what is the most valuable race of the day, the participating septet facing 19 fences around a gruelling Haydock Park as long as the meeting passes Friday’s inspection after the course was frozen midweek. The trip is just short of 3¼ miles.

Whatever happens, we have a few horses here we see as being the best of the bunch and they are sure to have their chances in the coming weeks.

Mint Condition (Charlie Longsdon) is too far out of the handicap and has seemingly little chance of levelling the odds. Mister Coffey (Nicky Henderson) is capable but not the best to our eye and has no successes over fences yet. Finally, Elvis Mail (Nick Alexander) is ten now and could be surpassed by younger rivals.

All of that means that we have narrowed this particular field down to the following four horses: 

Main Contenders

Blackjack Magic 

Anthony Honeyball has two in our four-horse shortlist, including Blackjack Magic. The nine-year-old is three from six over fences and was fourth at Ascot over Christmas in the Silver Cup.

His three wins have come at Exeter, Uttoxeter and Wincanton, the latter being in the Badger Beer, with his overall level of form being impressive for a horse due to carry a nice low weight.

Famous Bridge 

Famous Bridge’s recent form figures read 11411, his fourth being in a good race at Ayr.

Though he isn’t improving in lumps, his record is one of a progressive horse overall and it would be naïve to think that he won’t take another step forward here.

Considering then that he definitely stays and handles soft ground, it really comes down to whether we think he can stay ahead of the handicapper. He’s gone up 17lbs since he began this run in March last year, spanning ten months. He’s up 4bs from last time and at his current rate, there’s no guarantee he’ll handle that yet.

Kilbeg King

The second Anthony Honeyball runner on our list is Kilbeg King.

On the negative side, Kilbeg King hasn’t managed a chase win yet from three attempts. On the plus side, he ran to a mark of around 120 or so on his chase debut, then to roughly 135 on his second outing before being handed 142 for his latest effort.

It’s clear that he is getting the hang of this game. For what it’s worth, we reckon his latest run was actually closer to 150 when he was third of six in a Grade 1 and he is likely to improve once more. We could be looking at a very well handicapped horse here who should have no trouble in the conditions.

Royale Pagaille

Twice a hero in this race, Royale Pagaille was at one stage after winning here thought of as a Gold Cup horse by trainer Venetia Williams.

He’s getting older at ten and he carries a very big weight compared to the others, but around this track he arguably ran his best ever race eight weeks ago when he beat Bravemansgame in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase.

There’s nothing wrong with the conditions or form, but given this big weight he is no good thing against some possibly well handicapped types below him in the ratings.

Summary

Double Peter Marsh hero Royale Pagaille would not be a surprise winner and he has the rest of this field looking up at him in awe being rated at least 21lbs higher than any other horse.

That does leave him with a big weight to carry however and he remains solid, yet vulnerable to a better handicapped horse.

That horse may well be improver KILBEG KING. According to the opening odds released on Thursday, we may yet be treated to a value bet in the shape of this horse despite the small field and he’s worth chancing for Anthony Honeyball and Sam Twiston-Davies.