Good ground forecast for today’s seven-race card at Market Rasen although there is the prospect of light showers in Lincolnshire during the afternoon.
Dadsintrouble is visored for the first time and is entitled to come on for his Hereford reappearance. He is on an attractive mark, but this is a competitive heat and First Lord De Cuet (1.30) looked ready for a step up in distance when runner up at Sandown last time. David Pipe‘s point winner has been raised a couple of pounds for that run but can race from his old mark this afternoon.
JP McManus has won the last couple of Pertemps Finals courtesy of Sire Du Berlais and he has three going to post in his colours this afternoon including Irish raider Tower Bridge. It promises to be a most informative contest.
The lightly-raced Muckamore is a point winner who ran very well in all three hurdles – all right-handed – and won his last start at Taunton on soft ground back in February. He must go close but marginal preference at the forecast odds goes to Thunderstruck (2.03) who also won between the flags and ran his best race over timber first time out on decent ground. The Emma Lavelle yard are in good form with three winners in the last week including on the level at Kempton. The each way recommendation is 12/1.
At Wincanton first time blinkers worked the oracle with Un Beau Roman at Plumpton last time but the main dangers failed to complete the course and preference is for Lots Of Luck (2.12) who looked ready for a step back up in trip when runner up at Huntingdon earlier in the month.
The selection was no match for the progressive Bathiva on that occasion, but he has not been out of the first two in his last five chase starts and is clearly going the right way.
Sehayli (3.42) appeared to benefit from a change of tactics when making all at Hereford last week and he is taken to follow up under Kevin Brogan in the conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle. The selection has a 7lbs penalty this afternoon and you could argue that he is 12lbs higher today given Brogan does not claim and Mitchell Bastyan was able to take 5lbs from his back last time.
The listed Boomerang Chase at Thurles is the best race of the day with the top-class trio of Kemboy, Presenting Percy and Monalee (1.20) in opposition. Kemboy is a better horse going right-handed and is the big danger but Monalee – who was no match for Douvan in this corresponding race 12 months ago – ended last season with an excellent fourth in the Gold Cup and I hope to see him make all under Rachel Blackmore. This really is a midweek treat.
The Trader is odds on for the mile-and-a-half handicap at Newcastle but Amazing Red (2.20) is 18lbs better off – 15lbs if you include jockey’s claim – with the favourite for the 7L he was behind that rival at Newmarket back in June and he can cause a bit of a shock.
Ed Dunlop’s seven-year-old will need a truly run race as he does get further, and jockey James Doyle cannot allow PJ McDonald to control the race at his own pace from the front on The Trader. If he does, I believe he can end a long losing run.
