Friday 20th March brought news that one of Britain’s best-loved chasers has run his last race. Making his debut at Auteuil in November 2017 and appearing for the last time at his beloved Haydock in January 2026, Royal Pagaille is set to head into a well-earned retirement.
In those 10 years as a racehorse, Royal Pagaille has taken on the best runners on the biggest stages of all. A staying chaser of considerable ability and grit, he never quite managed to conquer Cheltenham. However, when the battle took place in the Merseyside mud, he proved more than a match for anyone.
Constitution Hill’s Older Half-Brother
As a son of Blue Bresil, Royal Pagaille shares a sire with the most talked about horse of the past five years, Constitution Hill. However, he would go on to hit the heights in a rather different discipline from his half-sibling. Whereas speed and hurdling ability (at least in the early days) were the name of the game for the Nicky Henderson star, Royal Pagaille would go on to become a top-tier star in the staying chase sphere. Not that it looked like he would become a multiple Grade 1 winner when he first arrived in Herefordshire.
Inauspicious Beginnings
Royal Pagaille began life as a racehorse on the French coast at the Saint-Augustin yard of Francois Nicolle. While winning only one of ten starts in France, he displayed enough promise to catch the eye of Venetia Williams, who shelled out £70,000 to secure his services at the Arqana Autumn sale in November 2018. By the time he made his British debut in 2020, Rich Ricci had assumed ownership.
Williams gave Royal Pagaille every chance to make a winning start in the pink and green. Unfortunately, Royal Pagaille fluffed his lines, finishing last of two runners at Chepstow and last of three at Huntingdon. Happily, those early British outings did not reflect his true ability.
| Date | Course | Race | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/1/20 | Chepstow | Novice Chase | 2nd of 2 |
| 1/3/2020 | Huntingdon | Beginners’ Chase | 3rd of 3 |
At Home at Haydock
Given his subsequent exploits, it is no surprise to learn that Royal Pagaille’s first British success came at Haydock in December 2020. Following that seven-length stroll in a Class 3 Novice event, he followed up in handicap company at Kempton before returning to Merseyside for the 2021 edition of the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase. Sent off as the 11/5 favourite, he cruised through the heavy ground to leave his rivals trailing 16 lengths in his wake. Royal Pagaille had arrived on the big race stage.
The tough and talented star would return to his favourite track on eight further occasions, with considerable success. Of his six British wins, five came at his favourite track. A second Peter Marsh Chase win came in 2022, but he is best known for his appearances in the Betfair Chase.
In four outings in the Grade 1 highlight, Royal Pagaille boasted form figures of 2-1-1-2. His first effort saw him come up short against subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard in 2021. Two years later, he returned to post the most impressive performance of his career. Lining up in a field containing the reigning King George hero Bravemansgame, defending Betfair Chase champ Protektorat, and Grand National winner Corach Rambler, Royal Pagaille proved a class apart on his way to a brilliant triumph by more than six lengths.
His final two Betfair Chase outings saw him lock horns with Cheltenham Festival winner Grey Dawning. Two lengths too good for the Dan Skelton star in 2024, he then ran a fine race to finish second to that rival on unsuitable good-to-soft ground in 2025.
Fittingly, what would turn out to be Royal Pagaille’s final racecourse appearance came at Haydock in the 2026 Peter Marsh Chase. Labouring to a last of six effort that day, the signs were there that the admirable star was perhaps ready to call it a day.
A Veteran of Four Gold Cups
While Royal Pagaille will be best remembered for his Grade 1 displays at Haydock, he was no stranger to the biggest jumps racing stage of all. Given his exploits in three-mile chases, the Cheltenham Gold Cup was the natural Cheltenham Festival target for the popular star.
| Year | Position | SP | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6th | 14/1 | Minella Indo |
| 2022 | 5th | 20/1 | A Plus Tard |
| 2023 | 6th | 50/1 | Galopin Des Champs |
| 2025 | 6th | 80/1 | Inothewayurthinkin |
While the springtime ground was usually against him, Royal Pagaille made four appearances in the classiest staying chase of the season. To his credit, he finished in the top six on each occasion, with his best performances being a fifth-place effort behind A Plus Tard in 2022.
An Amazing Horse for Connections
Royal Pagaille retires having won six of 23 British starts, finishing in the first three on eight further occasions, and amassing £604,308 in career prize money. Paying tribute to the long-serving warrior, his trainer stated:
“He’s got a lovely home organised for him, where he will be hunting in Dorset and will be going there next week. Horses like him aren’t easy to find, and he’s been amazing.”