Turf Talk: A ruck in the muck at Haydock should suit Forest Des Aigles down to the ground

Forest Des Aigles trainer Lucinda Russell, here pictured with Grand National winner One For Arthur. PIC: Ian Rutherford/PA Wire

Forest Des Aigles' fondness for a ruck in the muck should serve him very well in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.

Lucinda Russell’s seven-year-old has plenty to find on the ratings, but he is in pretty inspirational form, having won his last three races over fences.

The expectancy, too, is that he is still progressing ahead of what will be just his ninth start since thoughts turned to chasing.

Forest Des Aigles has gone up 21lb since his winning spree began at Hexham in October, but above all else with this race in mind is his expertise on heavy ground.

One to follow, Un De Sceaux wining the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last year. PIC: David Davies/PA Wire

Conditions are likely to be pretty desperate on Merseyside, which must surely be a worry for a good chunk of the field.

Not so Forest Des Aigles, who cannot have it wet enough. And after having proven his stamina with a fine success over three miles at Bangor in mid-December, everything looks in place for a big show.

Un De Sceaux is expected to put the novice Brain Power firmly in his place when he goes for a third consecutive victory in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

Brain Power has been the talking horse in the build-up to the Grade One, with the bookmakers desperate to tell us about the big-money gamble on him.

But Un De Sceaux has been there and done it all before and is unlikely to be too ruffled by this latest pretender to the crown.

Willie Mullins’ 10-year-old is arguably one of the most underrated jumps horses in training.