Peter Marsh Chase
Grade 2 Limited Handicap, Haydock Park £50,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1
Saturday 18th January 2014

1 Wychwoods Brook 16/1
2 Vintage Star 6/1
3 Merry King 9/2
10 ran Distances: 1½l, nk, ½l
TIME 6m 21.70s

Wychwoods Brook
© Racehorse Photos

Conditional jockey Conor Ring enjoyed a day he will never forget at Haydock with a 390-1 double highlighted by the success of Wychwoods Brook in the feature Peter Marsh Chase.

Ring's 7lb claim proved vital at the end of a thrilling finish to the three-mile-one-furlong chase, in which Vintage Star, Katenko and Merry King all emerged with credit.

Vintage Star had run in the Welsh National three weeks ago and there is a possibility that just took its toll in the home straight as the challenger from Wales eventually wore him down after the last to win by a length and a half at 16-1.

Merry King came with a powerful late surge to take third spot, a further neck away, while Katenko stuck on for fourth place.

As Wychwoods Brook is still a novice, a tilt at the Crabbie's Grand National, this season at least, is unlikely to be on the cards, according to his owners.

For trainer Evan Williams it was also a red-letter day, with his double at Haydock supplemented by a treble at Taunton.

Ring, who turns 21 next week, was nearly speechless after the race. He said: "I can't quite believe it. I was over the moon with one winner for the day, but to have a double and win a race like this takes some believing.

"The horse was so game. He put his head down every time I asked him and he kept on galloping all the way to the line. It's a great day."

Ring and Williams got off the mark on the Haydock card when Extreme Impact defied a huge absence and heavy ground to take the Tate Contracts Handicap Hurdle.

Having his first run since May 2012, the eight-year-old was one of the first off the bridle as Ugly Bug attempted to make all. He looked like holding them all off before Quel Elite loomed up looking the biggest threat, but Ring persevered on Extreme Impact and the 22-1 chance fought bravely to win by a neck.

The jockey said: "He was very brave, he just kept on finding every time I asked him. He likes that ground. It's heavy but it's perfectly raceable."

Peter Marsh Chase (Limited Handicap)
£50,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Heavy

PETER MARSH CHASE ROLL OF HONOUR

YEAR HORSE AGE/WT OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY SP

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