Sky Bet Peter Marsh Chase
 arbitrage betting
Grade 2, Haydock Park 14:00
£100,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
3m 1f 125y, Class 1  
Saturday 17th January 2026

1 Imperial Saint 7/2
2 Richmond Lake 11/2
3 Konfusion 100/30J
6 ran NR: Nassalam Distances: nk, 2l, 1¼l
Time: 6m 36.40s (slow by 3.40s)

Richard Johnson never lifted the race as a jockey, but he found himself at the heart of the story all the same as Imperial Saint surged home in the family colours now carried by the syndicate that bears his name.

From 16-1 overnight into 7-2 by the off, Imperial Saint was the subject of sustained support and Callum Pritchard delivered him late with a well-timed challenge, his valuable 3lb claim proving decisive when it mattered most.

Myretown, hero of the Ultima, ensured an honest gallop and still held sway, apparently travelling well, when a costly blunder at the third-last ripped the chance from his grasp. That handed the initiative to the progressive Konfusion, but Pritchard had tracked him patiently on Imperial Saint, who was tackling three miles for the first time, while Brian Hughes was also attempting to weave Richmond Lake into the picture.

It was Imperial Saint, previously something of an Aintree specialist, who found the most when the chips were down, forging ahead to beat Richmond Lake by a neck, with Konfusion a further two lengths away.

Trained in partnership by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, the latter reflected: “That’s a fantastic result, it’s a great team to be involved with, they are massively enthusiastic and they were the same when we won a maiden hurdle at Ludlow a few years ago!

“He had a entry in the Great Yorkshire Chase, but Dicky (Johnson) and I just thought the opposition and the track would suit him today, we chanced our luck and got away with it.

“Had it have been bottomless like it can be here, we might not have brought him, that might have brought his stamina into it but I just thought he might have more of a turn of foot than the others.

“Callum gave him a lovely ride and his 3lb proved vital. I’m delighted for Dicky, he was the syndicate’s first winner and some of them even own Myretown!

“We’ve just won the Peter Marsh so I’m not going to say we’ve reached our pinnacle but I think there’s still improvement to come.

“We’ll look at Aintree and I’m sure he’ll get an entry in the National.”

Johnson himself was quick to put the record straight with a smile: “I don’t think I rode the winner of this but I might have been at Ascot a fair few times.

“He’s been an amazing horse, he was the first we bought for the syndicate with Party Vibes and our first winner. We bought him as a fun horse, he’s certainly been that!

“He’s given the syndicate so much fun and he’s been perfect, he’s not that worried about ground, they’ve been to Cheltenham and Aintree and just about the only stipulation is he needs to go left-handed.

“Hopefully the handicapper won’t go too mad. I’m sure he’ll have an entry for the National but it’s whether he’ll get in. It’s definitely an option.

“I don’t think the owners would take much persuading, put it that way!”

Joel Parkinson took encouragement from Konfusion’s effort, particularly with bigger targets on the horizon: “We were very pleased. It was a good run and I think the ground has just done us in the end. Saying that I think everything else in the race would want softer ground so we can’t complain. It was a solid run.

“We’ll check he’s all right in the morning then have a sit down and talk about future plans.”

And there was sympathy for Myretown, whose race unravelled with that pivotal mistake. Assistant trainer Peter Scudamore said: “Your worry at Cheltenham was – was it a fluke? Then he fell at Newbury, but he’s shown he’s a good horse again. The mistake must have cost him a length and I just wish I could find a horse that doesn’t have any faults!

“He lives on the edge and made that mistake. That’s life. We entered him in the Gold Cup and boosted him up a bit. Had he won today I’d probably have gone for the Gold Cup, but I probably think the Ultima now.

“Whether we run before then or not I don’t know. Derek (Fox) said Aintree afterwards, he said he could have gone around again. He’ll have an entry in the National.”

BoyleSports

Peter Marsh Chase (Limited Handicap)
£100,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 1f 125y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

POS. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCkEY SP
1    Imperial Saint 8 10-10 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Callum Pritchard 7/2
2 nk Richmond Lake 10 10-3 Donald McCain Brian Hughes 11/2
3 2 Konfusion 8 11-0 Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith Callum Bewley 100/30J
4 1¼ Myretown 9 10-11 2 Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore Derek Fox 7/2
5 5½ Johnnywho 9 11-1 Jonjo & A J O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 100/30J
6 32 Royale Pagaille 12 12-0 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 11/1
NR 4 Nassalam 9 11-0 Gary & Josh Moore NON RUNNER

horse racing

PETER MARSH CHASE ROLL OF HONOUR

YEAR HORSE AGE/WT OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY SP

2025 Mr Vango
2024 Abandoned
2023 Abandoned
2022 Royal Pagaille
2021 Royal Pagaille
2020 Vintage Clouds
2019 Wakanda
2018 The Dutchman
2017 Bristol De Mai
2016 Cloudy Too
2015 Samstown
2014 Wychwoods Brook
2013 no race
2012 According To Pete
2011 no race
2010 Our Vic 12-11-03 D A Johnson David Pipe Danny Cook
2009 Cloudy Lane 7-11-10 Trevor Hemmings Donald McCain, Jr. Jason Maguire
2008 no race
2007 THE OUTLIER 9-10-03 P J Murphy Venetia Williams Paul O’Neill 8/1
2006 EBONY LIGHT 10-9-13 Roger Bellamy Ginger McCain Stephen Craine 33/1
2005 LORD TRANSCEND 8-10-04 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson Graham Lee 9/4F
2004 ARCTIC JACK 8-10-06 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith Dominic Elsworth 6/1
2003 TRUCKERS TAVERN 8-10-09 Margaret Scholey Ferdy Murphy Davy Russell 9/2
2002 RED STRIKER 8-11-01 Norman Mason Norman Mason Richard Guest 8/1
2001 Meeting abandoned due to frost
2000 THE LAST FLING 10-10-12 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith Seamus Durack 11/2
1999 GENERAL WOLFE 10-10-12 The Winning Line Venetia Williams Norman Williamson 4/1
1998 GENERAL WOLFE 9-10-10 Winning Line Racing Ltd Tim Forster Norman Williamson 11/2
1997 JODAMI 12-11-10 John Yeadon Peter Beaumont Norman Williamson 9/2
1996 SCOTTON BANKS 7-11-06 Ian Bray Peter Easterby Russ Garritty 15/8F
1995 EARTH SUMMIT 7-10-04 The Summit Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies Tom Jenks 7/1
1994 ZETA’S LAD 11-10-10 Andrew Cohen John Upson Robbie Supple 5/1
1993 JODAMI 8-11-02 John Yeadon Peter Beaumont Mark Dwyer 5/4F
1992 TWIN OAKS 12-11-10 John Moreton Gordon Richards Neale Doughty 5/4F
1991 Meeting abandoned due to frost
1990 NICK THE BRIEF 8-10-09 John Upson John Upson Martin Lynch 15/8F
1989 BISHOPS YARN 10-10-12 British Thoroughbred R & B Toby Balding Richard Guest 13/2
1988 Meeting abandoned due to snow
1987 THE THINKER 9-11-10 T P M McDonagh Ltd Arthur Stephenson Ridley Lamb 9/2
1986 COMBS DITCH 10-11-08 Jim Tory David Elsworth Colin Brown 3/1
1985 Meeting abandoned due to frost
1984 Meeting abandoned due to frost
1983 ASHLEY HOUSE 9-10-07 J McLoughlin Michael Dickinson Robert Earnshaw 11/8F
1982 BREGAWN 8-10-07 James Kennelly Michael Dickinson Robert Earnshaw 11/2
1981 LITTLE OWL 7-11-03 Robin Wilson Peter Easterby Mr Jim Wilson 4/6F

horse racing