Grade One Marsh Chase Aintree Guide 2023

Paul Nicholls has two in this race, in the form of Pic D’Orhy and Hitman. Pic D’Orhy arrives here having won two novice grade two’s last year before winning at Newton Abbot, Huntingdon and Kempton heading into the Ascot Chase in February. He was 16 lengths behind Shishkin on the day to finish second in a strong race and was seven lengths ahead of Fakir D’Oudairies, who finished third.

Fakir D’Oudairies should run a better race here but this eight-year-old can run a big race to go close and it would be surprising if he didn’t do so.

Joseph O’Brien sends the talented chaser Fakir D’Oudairies to the Marsh Chase after a slightly disappointing run in the Ascot Chase in February, finishing a fair way behind Pic D’Orhy and winner Shishkin when 7/4fav. He is a winner however of some very good grades races, including the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles and has won this contest for the last two years running.

He beat Hitman by five and a half lengths last year to claim success here after beating Nuts Well by 11 lengths in 2021. O’Brien’s eight-year-old will be hoping for the hat-trick and he looks set for a big run. It would be a surprise to see him not going close to victory.

Alex Hales’ nine-year-old Millers Bank is a C&D winner here, landing Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase at last year’s meeting, ten lengths ahead of War Lord and fellow runner Pic D’Orhy (who was pulled up). Hasn’t been a fluent runner since and hasn’t tasted success since that win, was off the pace to finish sixth in King George at Christmas and fifth of six in the Ascot Chase in February.

Others hold much stronger form and this may be a struggle for Millers Bank.

156-rated chaser who ran a decent race in the Ryanair at Cheltenham last month to finish fourth, behind Hitman, Shishkin and Envoi Allen. He had run some good races beforehand at the likes of Thurles and Punchestown at a slightly lower level than this but was six lengths behind Fakir D’Oudairies in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles in January after Haut En Couleurs fell at the last when leading.

Another tough test awaits here but he should be able to keep improving and get closer to the current market favourite, Fakir D’Oudairies. Not dismissed or taken lightly.

Champion jockey Brian Hughes rides eight-year-old outsider Minella Drama, who arrives here in good form over fences, finishing third at Haydock in December before back-to-back wins at Musselburgh and Kelso most recently at class two level. A player at that level but hasn’t fared too well when upped in class/grade.

Opposable here despite recent good form as he may struggle back up in class.

Richard Hobson’s eight-year-old Fugutif arrives at Aintree after a good run of form over fences, finishing second at Cheltenham in December to Amarillo Sky before winning Chepstow handicap later that month ahead of runner up to Il Ridoto in Cheltenham handicap before heading to the Cheltenham festival last month.

He finished runner up in the Magners Plate, two lengths behind Seddon when priced at 11/1 and hasn’t spent too much time out of the top three on his last four or five runs. Tougher test here but not dismissed on that form.

The second of Paul Nicholls’ runners in the Marsh Chase is Hitman, who finished five and a half lengths behind Fakir D’Oudairies to finish second in this last year. Has since finished second here on return, before winning easily at Haydock heading into the King George, where he was pulled up and reportedly bled.

Second in the Denman Chase and then decent third in the Ryanair at Cheltenham last month before coming here, Hitman should be in with a shout as he’s in decent form and ran well in this last year. Lorcan Williams does the steering with Harry Cobden on board Pic D’Orhy.