Who To Follow At Haydock On Saturday - 22/01/22

Haydock 14:35

Royale Pagaille

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

N/A

Age: 8

Weight: 11-10

OR: 163

Days: 63

The big race of the day is the Grade Two Peter Marsh Handicap Chase over 3m2f with Royal Pagaille looking to land back to back renewals of the race.

One of the most improving chasers of last season for Venetia Williams, who won three races on the spin before tackling the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March at the festival where he finished a fair sixth.

As previously mentioned, he was a big improver before that, winning three in a row this event last year over course and distance in January, absolutely demolishing the field by 16 lengths after a top jumping display, looking like a real Grade One horse in the making bursting onto the scene.

The course form is a big plus, as he also won a Class 2 chase at Haydock in December 2020 and having course form around here, especially in tricky conditions means a lot.

He is running off top weight giving bundles of weight away but he looks the class act in the field and should be tough to pass.

Form: View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
10/04/23	FAI	29	Sft	11-12	F
17/03/23	CHL	26.5	Sft	11-10	6
26/12/22	KEM	24	Sft	11-10	2
07/04/22	AIN	25	GS	11-7	5
18/03/22	CHL	26.5	GS	11-10	5

The trainer to follow on Saturday at Haydock is the lesser known Samuel Drinkwater who is having one of his best seasons to date and has some big chances at the weekend.

The first big shout for the handler is The Brimming Water who was a smart winner at Wetherby last time out and has a big chance to back it up off 7lb higher.

Drinkwater's big runner on the afternoon is Gallic Geordie who has really out him in the map this term and although not landing the four time last time out, should go close off a mark of 108.

Champion jockey elect Brian Hughes will look to extend his lead at the top of the jockeys championship table at Haydock on Saturday and has some superb chances to do so.

In the first race of the day he sits on Minella Drama in the Grade Novice Chase and the seven year old has a huge chance dropping back in grade and up in trip.

He gets the mount on Richmond Lake in the Supreme Trial and then in the next Grade Two event he sits on Navajo Pass who took this race last year.

In the Peter Marsh Grade Two Handicap Chase he has a live chance with Empire Steel and then in the three mile Handicap Hurdle teams up with Charlie Longsdon on Moon King.

Finally, in the last event of the day he is given his best chance of a winner with Sacre Pierre who is looking to bounce back from his fall last time out.