Snakebite set for Marsh bid

Carl Llewellyn’s novice chaser Snakebite is set to take his chance against experienced handicappers in Saturday’s Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.

The seven-year-old will carry only 10st 2lb if top-weight Cornish Rebel takes his chance, a huge advantage in what is likely to be very testing conditions.

Snakebite showed decent form in bumpers and over hurdles before chasing home the high-class Denman on his first two starts over fences.

He opened his chasing account at the third time of asking at Folkestone and Llewellyn is hoping he can build on that performance.

“Snakebite will go for the Peter Marsh Chase on Saturday. He’s fine and everything has gone well since his last race,” he said.

“He ran well enough when second to Denman on heavy but I don’t think that’s his best ground.

“There are no long-term plans for him at the moment. Whatever happens on Saturday, win, lose or draw, he’ll have a hard enough race on that ground so we’ll see how he comes out of it.”

Conditions at the venue are currently very testing but the track is raceable according to clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright.

“The going is heavy but raceable today and at this stage we are hopeful of staging racing on Saturday,” he said.

“We had half an inch of rain yesterday and expect drizzle today. The forecast is for another half-inch tomorrow and if that rain materialises then we may choose to call a precautionary inspection for Friday morning.”