Overview
- The first British Grade 1 of the season is scheduled for 3.00 on Saturday at Haydock with £200,000 in prize money.
- Seven confirmations were published on Monday: Grey Dawning, Haiti Couleurs, Handstands, Hitman, Stellar Story, Marsh Wren and Royale Pagaille.
- Grey Dawning is the ante‑post favourite, with Dan Skelton calling last year’s narrow defeat “unfinished business” after preparing the horse for a fresh return.
- Royale Pagaille seeks an unprecedented third consecutive Betfair Chase win at a track where he excels, with jockey Charlie Deutsch welcoming softer conditions as the current going reads good to soft, soft in places.
- Haiti Couleurs and Handstands arrive with recent runs as connections frame this as a season checkpoint, and forecasts of further rain raise the prospect of a grinding test that could blunt speed.