Snakebite Poised To Strike In Peter Marsh Chase

Carl Llewellyn revealed today that classy novice Snakebite will take his chance in the £75,000 Grade Two Peter Marsh Chase (2.00pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday, January 20.

Llewellyn reported: 'Snakebite will go for the Peter Marsh Chase on Saturday. He's fine and everything has gone well since his last race.'

On his most recent outing, the seven-year-old opened his chasing account at the third attempt with a six-length victory over Iris De Balme in a three mile, one furlong beginners' chase at Folkestone, on December 12.

Snakebite previously finished second on heavy going to Denman in the Grade Two Stan James Berkshire Novices' Chase over two and a half miles at Newbury in November.

Llewellyn commented: '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.'

Snakebite has been allotted 10st 2lb in the three-mile contest. The weights are headed by Cornish Rebel (11st 10lb), while other high-quality rivals could include John Smith's Grand National fourth Nil Desperandum, Turpin Green, Vodka Bleu and Leading Man.

Malton handler John Quinn revealed this morning that Leslingtaylor, unbeaten in two novice hurdle runs, is on course for the two-mile £30,000 Grade Two Anglo Irish Bank Novices' Hurdle (2.30pm).

The five-year-old displayed progressive form on the Flat last term, winning handicaps at Leicester, Haydock and York, before defeating Indian Pipe Dream on his hurdles debut at Market Rasen on December 9.

Leslingtaylor made it two from two over hurdles with a length and three-quarters victory over subsequent Kelso winner Crocodile Dundee in a good ground two-mile Musselburgh novice event on December 30.

Quinn reported today: 'All being well, Leslingtaylor will go to Haydock on Saturday. He's in good form and I'm pleased with him. The form of his last race was franked and it's always nice to see form standing up. He's done nothing wrong - obviously it's a step up in class but we'll see how he gets on.

'You prefer not to have to run them on very soft ground but he's won on heavy on the Flat and I don't think there's any option - it's a nice prize to go for.'

The Malton handler is hopeful that Graham Lee can maintain his association with Leslingtaylor and collect a hat-trick of victories, having partnered the gelding to both of his hurdles triumphs.

Quinn said: 'I'm just waiting to see whether Graham goes to Ascot or not, so jockey plans are a bit up in the air at the moment but hopefully he can ride him.'

The Anglo Irish Bank Novices' Hurdle, which was won last year by the Martin Pipe-trained Nous Voila, has attracted an 11-strong entry that also includes the James Fanshawe-trained Nobelix, unbeaten in two hurdles starts.

Howard Johnson could run Astarador, twice successful this term and third to Silverburn in the Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on January 6, while Amaretto Rose, Osana and one-time classy Bumper horse Mendo could also line up.

LATEST GOING

Haydock Park's Clerk of the Course, Kirkland Tellwright, is 'hopeful' that Saturday's high-quality card will go ahead, despite the wet weather.

He reported this morning: 'The going is heavy but raceable today and at this stage we are hopeful of staging racing on Saturday.

'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.'