Nigel Twiston-Davies' Haydock specialist and former winner Bristol De Mai is among the 13 entries for this Saturday's Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park.
The popular grey is now a 12-year-old but has always thrived at Haydock, particularly when landing the Grade One Betfair Chase three times in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned veteran has won five times overall at the Merseyside track, including in the 2017 Peter Marsh Chase. But on his most recent start he was a distant fourth behind impressive winner Protektorat when bidding for a record-equalling fourth victory in the Betfair Chase on his seasonal return in Haydock in November.
Despite his advancing years Bristol De Mai may not be the oldest horse to line-up in the Peter Marsh with 14-year-old Blaklion and 15-year-old Regal Encore also among the entries.
Blaklion won the Becher Chase over the Randox Grand National fences at Aintree Racecourse when trained by Twiston-Davies in 2017. He is now with Dan Skelton and has finished sixth and 14th for him in the last two Grand Nationals. Blaklion also landed back-to-back successes at Haydock in December 2021, including a veterans' chase over course and distance and The Last Fling Chase. He was fourth in the Jewson Veterans' Handicap Chase back at Haydock on his most recent start at the end of November.
Anthony Honeyball's Regal Encore is also entered at Ascot, where he has thrived, on the same afternoon.
Merseyside-born Donald McCain's Minella Drama is entered. He won over the Grade Two Novices' Chase at this meeting last year – and also scored at Musselburgh on New Year's Day.
Venetia Williams' Fontaine Collonges – another course and distance winner in November – could also line-up. While others who have won at Haydock in the past, like Honeyball's Sam Brown, the Sue Smith-trained Small Present and Five Star Getaway, from the Christian Williams' stable, are also among the five-day entries.
Some of those entered in the Peter Marsh also hold an engagement in the Fleur de Lys Chase at Lingfield this Sunday, including Bristol De Mai, Nicky Henderson's Dusart, Minella Drama and Sam Brown. The Fleur de Lys Chase will also see the return to action of last year's Grand National hero Noble Yeats – Emmet Mullins' eight-year-old was last in action when winning the Grade Two Many Clouds at Aintree at the start of last month.
Charlie Longsdon's Rare Edition is the headline act of nine entries for the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle – another of the four Grade Two contests on Haydock's seven-race card on Saturday.
But the trainer is watching ground conditions at Haydock – with Rare Edition likely to be rerouted to the Urban Logistics Reit Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle, won by Shishkin in 2020, at Huntingdon on February 9 if the Merseyside going proves too testing for his Supreme Novices' Hurdle hopeful.
The six-year-old is a best-priced 16-1 for the Cheltenham Festival opener after winning three times over obstacles this season following a victory in a Southwell bumper last spring. He was was superb when running out an wide-margin winner at Kempton on Boxing Day on his most recent start and Longsdon said: "He is entered for the Rossington Main, but if it is this (heavy) ground I won't go. I won't go on heavy ground. He's a big, weak baby – a classy baby – but he won't go on heavy ground.
"If he doesn't go to Haydock, he'll go to the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon. I think that is the more likely target at this stage because we know what the ground is going to be like realistically. I know that is two-miles-three, but it's a sharp two-three."
He added: "I'm looking forward to where he goes next and I was amazed when I heard him described as the best two-miler we've got in this country. Yes there are probably half a dozen better ones in Ireland, but it's fun for us to have a good horse. Everything matches up right, it's there and clear to see. He deserves to be where he is and as people say, if he was trained by a Henderson or Nicholls, he would be half the price. We're lucky to have him."
The Olly Murphy-trained unbeaten hurdler Chasing Fire could be in opposition, having won his two starts so far both at Market Rasen. Other entries include Howlingmadmurdock, from Tom Lacey stable, and Evan Williams' Doyen Star – both winners of their only start over hurdles.
The entries are completed by Dan Skelton's Pembroke; the Sandy Thomson-trained War Soldie, Twiston-Davies' Matata, Poetic Music (Fergal O'Brien) and Toothless (Paul Nicholls).
Nicholls' Stage Star was among the seven entries revealed for the Grade Two Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices' Chase.
Nicholls has won three successive Saturday Novice contests over hurdles and fences and will be hoping Stage Star can add to his team of youngsters for the big Festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree.
Nicky Henderson's Epatante is the headline act of nine entries for the New One Unibet Hurdle – which has in the past been used a stepping stone to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
The nine-year-old JP McManus-owned mare won the Champion Hurdle in 2020 and has been third and second to Honeysuckle in the Cheltenham Festival feature over the past two seasons.
She was combined 29 lengths behind stable-mate and hot Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill when runner-up in both the Grade One Fighting Fifh Hurdle at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on her two most recent starts.
She will drop down to Grade Two level on Merseyside ahead of a return to Cheltenham in March, possibly for the Mares' Hurdle – although she would need supplementing as she wasn't among the initial entries.
Possible opposition on Saturday includes Twiston-Davies' I Like To Move It – who won the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in November but was only sixth when stepped up in trip to 2m4f in the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle back at Prestbury Park on New Year's Day; the Harry Fry-trained Metier – a winner of the Grade One Tolworth Novices' Hurdle in 2021 but pulled up on his return to action in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton; and aforementioned Minella Drama – from the McCain stable – who is doubly entered at Haydock.
The first race, the Patrick Coyne Memorial Novices' Chase, is due off at 12.20pm at Haydock on Saturday with the finale at 3.50pm. Gates open at 10.20am and tickets start at £22 if booked in advance.
For more details and to book tickets go tohttps://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/haydock/events-tickets/peter-marsh-chase-day/
