Collonges booked for Marsh success

Hopefully the weather will relent sufficiently for Haydock Park to stage the Betdirect Peter Marsh Chase next Saturday, a three-mile event which often supplies a high-class winner and has in the past proved a good trial for the top prizes later in the season.

Last year’s winner Red Striker did not exactly set the world alight after taking this event, but some quality individuals have won the race, most notably Jodami in 1993 on his way to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory.

And Hussard Collonges, who hails from the Jodami yard of Peter Beaumont, looks the sensible form pick for this year’s renewal.

The eight-year-old may only be in his second season as a chaser but he certainly looks to be a top-class prospect.

He underlined his quality last term when topping off a fair campaign with victory in the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham.

Hussard Collonges is certainly still progressing and his reappearance when second behind Marlborough at Wetherby stands up well.

As does his excellent fifth under a big weight behind Be My Royal in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on his last run in November.

Beaumont was thrilled with that performance, saying: “He ran a cracking race, jumped well and went well but he was just giving away a bit too much weight to some of the others.

“It’s a good race for second season chasers and the horse was further up the handicap than I would have liked. I was delighted with him, he’s a nice horse.”

Hussard Collonges’ main target is expected to be the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and given his high mark, Beaumont has found his options somewhat limited.

The Brandsby handler explained: “There’s nothing for him really except the Peter Marsh Chase.”

Another possible Peter Marsh contender who is Cheltenham-bound is Sir Stanley Clarke’s Barton.

It had initially been feared the 10-year-old, trained at Malton by Tim Easterby, would miss the whole of this season after suffering a foot problem in the autumn.

However, the gelding is reported to have recovered well and could have a crack at this race.

Barton was a top-class hurdler for Clarke before switching to fences in 2001.

He enjoyed some success over the bigger obstacles taking both the ‘Dipper’ at Newcastle and the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree last April.

“Tim is on a skiing holiday at the moment but Peter Easterby rang me the other day and he does not do that very often,” Clarke said.

“Barton is in top form and they are talking about the Peter Marsh. The Gold Cup is the target.”

Another to watch for is Ferdy Murphy’s Historg.

The eight-year-old has been in sparkling form so far this season, not finishing out of the money on his three starts.

He really raised his game last time though when taking the Racecourse of The Year Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Eve.

Historg certainly enjoyed the heavy going that day and looks to be relatively unexposed after just 12 runs since December 2000.

Murphy said: “Davy (Russell) thinks three miles over those big fences will be ideal for Historg and we can squeeze it in on the way to a crack at the Racing Post Chase.”

The likely heavy going at the Merseyside track will suit Historg but it would take a mammoth effort to beat the class of Hussard Collonges.

Barton is obviously an interesting and unexposed proposition but after such a long lay off he may be best watched this time.

Also on the card is the Red Square Reloaded Champion Hurdle Trial over two miles.

The race is not the best of the acknowledged trials, but last year’s victor, the ill-fated Rodock was a smart enough performer on his day.

Should Flame Creek go to post this year, you need look no further for your wager.

Trainer Noel Chance holds this gelding in the very highest regard and he is a live outside hope for the blue riband event, the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in March.

The seven-year-old has had just five runs in his career and he has only been beaten once in that time.

His last run came at Cheltenham when he took the George Stevens Handicap Hurdle in impressive fashion on heavy ground and Chance confessed he has already backed Flame Creek for the big one.

“I am on at 66-1,” said Chance.

“He coped well enough with the ground today and he really is an improving horse.

“He could go for one of the trials but he doesn’t go right-handed that well so we could just end up coming back here for the big one.”