Imperial Saint takes Peter Marsh honours

Richard Johnson may never have won the Sky Bet Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock as a jockey but he roared home Imperial Saint in his family colours now used by the syndicate which carries his name.

Heavily backed from 16-1 overnight into 7-2, he arrived late on the scene under Callum Pritchard whose 3lb allowance proved crucial in the finish.

Ultima winner Myretown put the pace to the race and was still in front going seemingly well enough well taking the roots out of the third-last, costing him any chance.

The progressive Konfusion was left in front but Pritchard had stalked him on Imperial Saint, who still had to prove his stamina over three miles, while Brian Hughes was also trying to smuggle Richmond Lake into contention.

It was Imperial Saint, who previously had become a bit of an Aintree specialist, who had the most in the finish, beating Richmond Lake and Konfusion by a neck and two lengths.

He is trained in a partnership by Philip Hobbs with Johnson White and the latter said: “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 said: “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 said of Konfusion, who has a Gold Cup entry: “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.”

Assistant trainer Peter Scudamore said of fourth-placed Myretown: “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.”