'Venetia is brilliant' - Rich Ricci nails it as Royale Pagaille turns back time

Saturday: Haydock

In a throwback to memorable races of a past era, Royale Pagaille defied a lofty rating to successfully defend his Peter Marsh crown with a gallant weight-carrying performance under jockey-of-the-moment Charlie Deutsch.

Racing off an official mark of 163 – the highest in this race since Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Jodami won off 169 in 1997 – topweight Royale Pagaille emerged on top after a prolonged duel with Sam Brown in the home straight.

The noisy reaction of enthralled racegoers showed the demand to see top-class horses in handicap company giving lumps of weight away as Royale Pagaille shrugged off a rating higher than Denman's when he won his first Hennessy.

On his first start since chasing home A Plus Tard in the Betfair Chase, the Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old, conceding 11lb to his nearest rival, galloped on relentlessly under Deutsch, who has remained on the crest of a wave since his Ladbrokes Trophy victory in November.

Royale Pagaille went on from here to finish sixth in the Gold Cup last season and his odds for the Cheltenham showpiece were cut to 16-1 (from 25) by Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook.

"I'm really thrilled. It was tough today, he had loads of weight and it was a tougher race than last year," said Williams, who won the race for a fourth time.

"They've gone a good gallop and he's had to find his way through. He wasn't travelling all that well, but his jumping held up really well. Charlie has given him a superb ride and he's had to battle all the way to the line. I made no secret he missed quite a lot of work since he was here last time when he picked up a nasty wound on the front of a joint.

"It was like the days gone by when the Gold Cup horses used to run in the Peter Marsh and hopefully we'll have the ground to be able to take him back to Cheltenham in March."

Peter Marsh Handicap Chase: full result and replay

Royale Pagaille is a rare British-trained runner for leading owner Rich Ricci, who – according to Williams – was seeing the horse in the flesh for the first time.

"It was great and Venetia is brilliant, she's a very underrated trainer and it's just great to win this two years in a row," said Ricci.

"He's a Grade 1 horse and we're just thinking about where to go next. If the ground comes up soft at Cheltenham we have to go there for the Gold Cup and if it doesn't we'll find something else, but he's a fantastic horse."

Tommy's Oscar Cheltenham bound

Rising star Tommy's Oscar booked his place in the Champion Hurdle after registering a Grade 2 success in 'The New One' Unibet Hurdle for permit-holder Ann Hamilton.

Tommy's Oscar was cut to 25-1 (from 50) by Betfair Sportsbook for the Cheltenham Festival day one highlight following a five-length victory under a confident Danny McMenamin ride.

Tommy's Oscar: recorded his four-timer at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Hamilton and husband Ian train just four horses on their Northumberland farm and the seven-year-old's fourth win in a row provided them with a tenth winner of a remarkable campaign.

"He keeps climbing the ladder," said the winning trainer. "He's a lovely horse who always tries his best. He's very straightforward and does everything you ask and if we're going to have a go at Cheltenham, I suppose this is the year to do it, while the horses are going well."

Ian Hamilton added: "He's kept improving and we're chuffed to bits to have a horse like him. We've got to give Cheltenham a go, but it will be different for him. He's used to a flat track and has been impressive here and at Musselburgh and Cheltenham is very undulating."

The New One Unibet Hurdle: full result and replay

Minella Drama overcomes his 'wild' ways

Donald McCain's week got even better as the "wild" Minella Drama showcased his talent with a decisive win in the Grade 2 Altcar Novices' Chase.

McCain became the first British trainer to reach 100 winners this season on Tuesday and now has a serious prospect for the spring festivals in Minella Drama, who raced wide under Brian Hughes on his way to a nine-and-a-half length victory.

"He's very good – a genuine Grade 1 performer," said the trainer after winning the race for a third time.

"It's been a slow process with him because he is wild in everything he does. My assistant Adrian [Lane] rides him every day and lads like him make horses as he's not easy. You keep him anyway from other horses, his tail goes round and he does this, that and the other, but he's very, very talented."

McCain added: "It was always the plan to come here but we felt we needed to run him three times over two miles first to get the freshness out of him. He's learning his job well and I'd imagine we'll be thinking of Aintree, Brian wants me to go to Ayr which comes first this year and it's all up in the air."

There was a sad postscript to the race as Clondaw Caitlin, who fell at the ninth fence, was fatally injured.

Read more reports:

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'The ability is still there' - Tiger Roll team happy with festival prep at Navan

'I thought I was gone' - nothing Routine about brilliant Sean Flanagan recovery

Royale Pagaille back in Gold Cup picture after winning second Peter Marsh

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday