Progressive Konfusion aiming to extend Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith's impressive run in Haydock finale

The seven-year-old gelding, the mount of Danny McMenamin takes another step forward in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (3.35).

Trained by the in-form partnership of Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith at High Eldwick near Bingley, Konfusion was a winner on his seasonal return on Charlie Hall Chase Day at Wetherby three weeks ago.

And Parkinson is delighted with how his charge has fared since, ahead of today’s contest over the extended three miles.

He said: “Konfusion won at Wetherby last time out and I have never seen him come out of a race better. He is normally one to just take a bit of time between races but you could have run him the next day. I think we are just in unbelievable form.

“He’s a horse with a lot of improvement in him. It wasn’t the best race he won at Wetherby and he’s in with the big boys today – but we do think he is a nice horse.”

Konfusion has steadily improved throughout his career and his record in the calendar year reads three wins, a second and a third. He has also continued to prosper as he has been upped in trip and raced over the larger obstacles, on going ranging from good to soft.

The Grand National-winning stable’s form has really caught the eye this month for an operation which has traditionally starts to fire a little later in the campaign.

A run which started with four seconds at Market Rasen on November 13, was followed by a winning double at Newcastle the day after and then crowned by a sparkling 30-1 treble at Wetherby seven days ago – taking the monthly tally to eight victories.

They added another yesterday when Heather Honey (13-8 fav) – owned by Smith – won the Support The Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle under Peter Kavanagh, on the opening day of Catterick’s jumps season.

A former showjumper, like his Olympian father Steven, Parkinson said: “We are very pleased. We set our stall out to be ready a bit earlier this year and we have done it, pleasingly, so we are happy with the whole bunch. Everything is coming out of the races well.

“We had a good week. I think we were unlucky not to have two winners at Market Rasen that day and the treble at Wetherby, I think young [Peter] Kavanagh rode out of his skin that day.

“The horses are in great form, we will try and keep a little bit of that soft ground that would suit the majority of our horses and hopefully we will keep on the run.”

The stable currently has 50 horses ready to run and 60 in total with capacity for a few more.

Ambitious Parkinson, who joined Sue Smith on the trainers’ licence at Craiglands Farm in 2024, is keen to grow the stable in time.

The pair had their first winner at Carlisle the same year and he said: “I’m loving it, to be honest, but I feel like we are just scraping the surface. I’m not saying we can compete with the top yards because of the numbers, we just haven’t got the stables, but I think we can turn up on the day and be a nuisance.

“We can always build more stables in the future but at the minute we are limited to 60, 65 maximum. We do have a few empty stables and you are always open to that good owner coming into the yard.

“We are pleased with where we. We have a fantastic team, everyone is working hard and everyone knows their place, including me.

“If I’m struggling, I’ve got Sue and of course, my grandad, Harvey, who will give me a kick up the backside!”

Grandad being the irrepressible Olympic showjumper turned handler. When asked if the legendary horseman, now 86, still had any input at the dual purpose operation, Parkinson replied simply: “Yes. A lot!”

He added: “Last season we set off a bit later than now but we managed to maintain good form all season.

“By starting a bit earlier this season hopefully we can do something similar. It is not easy but we can have a good go this season.”

Guiseley trainer Sam England’s Hudson De Grugy is also in the ten-runner field partnered by Gavin Sheehan.