Marsh Hurdle Guide

Trainer - Nick Williams

Jockey -

The first runner of the Grade One contest on Saturday at Ascot is the big outsider Agrapart that will have to produce a career best performance to even grab a place in this.

He has raced twice this season both over in France finishing fourth on both occasions in Grade One and Two events in soft/heavy ground which is hard to read on a form basis.

This will be his first run in England since August and massive step up on his British form alone is needed to go close here.

Trainer - Nicky Henderson

Jockey - Nico de Boinville

L'Ami Serge is a horse of extreme talent from this proven yard but with him being put in this contest having not run since May 2018 it looks an uphill battle.

He has Grade One winning form at Aintree on his second to last start and also over in France back in 2017 and he is a very likeable horse but has things going against him here.

With the nine year old gelding having his first run for over a year and needing to gain his fitness he looks opposable in this company with the stand out favourite looking unbeatable.

Trainer - Emma Lavelle

Jockey - Aidan Coleman

The seven year old had the season of a life time last year when winning all of his seven contests including two Grade Ones, the first ever for his yard, and brought the house down at the Cheltenham festival in the Stayers Hurdle.

He is aiming to defend his Grade One title at Prestbury Park this year and went the right way about it landing the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his seasonal debut.

He was workman like that day and will be much fitter and stronger for that run heading into this contest as the odds on favourite at 1/4.

Trainer - Tom George

Jockey - Adrian Heskin

The main threat to Paisley Park in out opinion is this eight year old who has been smart on both his starts this season coming back over hurdles after trying the bigger obstacles last term.

He landed a decent Grade two contest on his seasonal debut at Wetherby in tricky ground and followed that up with a good third behind Paisley Park at Newbury.

He will have to come on for that but looks the most likely of the bunch to grab the second spot on the day.

Trainer - Debra Hamer

Jockey - Tom Bellamy

The penultimate runner in the race is a very surprising entry in this Grade One with him being a very likeable and successful horse in handicap or Listed contests.

In his recent runs he has done most of his damage at Cheltenham with figures of 3112 there in his last four runs and although he will certainly enjoy a staying test in tough conditions he looks slightly outclassed by the favourite.

Trainer - Oliver Sherwood

Jockey - Leighton Aspell

Oliver Sherwood provides the only mare in the field that looks a very exciting prospect for the yard but in Grade One company could be outclassed but she will certainly come on for the run.

She heads here on a hat-trick which is fine form and last time out she landed a nice Listed contest at Kempton but this is considerably harder.