Haydock Park is preparing for the classiest sport of the year so far on Saturday aS jump racing gets going again in Britain following the big freeze.

The popular 'Peter Marsh Chase day' offers more than £200,000 in prize-money and is an occasion that attracts the keenest followers of racing.

As money is tighter for many people, admission prices - as they will be at the fixtures in February and March - are pegged at midweek levels, starting at £8.

With so many horses ready for a race after the recent lean period, trainers have made a large number of entries. More than 160 horses have been put into the six races.

In the opening Blue Square Champion Hurdle Trial, Snap Tie is poised to put his hurdling crown credentials on the line after a thrilling second place behind Harchibald in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park.

Afsoun, the winner of the corresponding race in 2007 but denied the chance to win again 12 months ago when the meeting was abandoned, could number among the opponents.

Time was when the feature three-mile Peter Marsh Chase - which is worth £70,000 - attracted only a small number of entries. Not so now. More than 30 horses are entered, including Snap Tie's stable companion Monkerhostin which won last season's Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown Park.

Nadover, seventh in last year's Grand National, has Aintree on his agenda again, and is set to take in the Peter Marsh Chase en route.

Following two races for novice horses in the middle of the afternoon, an array of veteran steeplechasers will come out for the Tim Molony Chase over three and a half miles. Included in the entries are former Welsh National heroine L'Aventure, former Midlands Grand National victor Philson Run and three times Lincolnshire National winner Victory Gunner.

The afternoon rounds off at 4.10pm with a race over Haydock Park's "fixed brush" hurdles.

Dickon White, Haydock Park Racecourse's managing director, said: "Peter Marsh Chase day is always one of the highlights of the jump racing season. Once again, we look certain to attract some of the most talked about horses in the sport, making for a superb attraction for all our visitors.

"Jump racing fans have been starved of a lot of racing because of the recent freezing weather so Haydock Park will warm them up this Saturday.

"Admission starts at just £8. Accompanied children under 16 years are, as always, given free admission, while senior citizens and students can enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price."