Friday, September 26, 2008

Market Rasen tomorrow

While many eyes will be on Ascot tomorrow (I take Henrythenavigator to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes), there's a decent jumps card at Market Rasen.

The opener has something of a trappy look about it - one to note for future reference is Twiston-Davies' Unfurled who won the Predominate Stakes three years ago but hasn't been seen out for 1127 days. He's reported to have schooled 'very well'.

The 32red.com Handicap Chase at 3.15 is the feature; in a race where dangers abound I shall support Brooklyn Brownie who ran well when second behind Snoopy Loopy over course and distance in the Summer Plate. The going was fairly soft that day; the better ground here should suit. The horse hasn't been seen out since, so I'm obviously taking his fitness on trust.

In the 2.40 Alan King introduces Black Jacari, having used this race in the past two seasons as a starting point for Katchit and Franchoek. Woolfall Treasure and Simarian will serve as useful benchmarks but Black Jacari is taken to collect the spoils.

Carl Llewellyn's Frascati Park looks the one to beat in the concluding bumper; I'm wary of Son of Flicka who is held in high regard by Donald McCain.

Ouzbeck finished strongly when winning over two and a half miles last time and is taken to stay the extra distance in the 3.55.

Some old friends and foes turn up for the competitive-looking 2.05. Two I'm fond of are Katies Tuitor who isn't always the easiest to catch right and Leslingtaylor who struggled a little over fences; my each-way selection however is Noel Chance's Divine Gift.

A couple of months ago a few of us burnt our fingers on Evan Williams' Five A Side. Regular readers may have noted that he runs today (Friday) in a lower grade handicap at Southwell. We've decided we won't be chasing losses...

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Agree re Henrythenavigator. And I think I've got the right horse names in my Yankee at Ascot this pm. I did get paid on last week's.

GeeDee said...

The word beforehand was that, with the Breeders' Cup on the horizon, John Gosden had left Raven's Pass a little undercooked for the QEII but the 3/1 shot, for the first time, managed to get first run on 'Henry' and he beat the 11/8 favourite a length. Nobody can say the horse and connections don't deserve it.
Given he hadn't been seen on a racecourse for over three years, it was surprising to see Unfurled sent off 11/4 second favourite. Solent, advertised jolly in the morning, was a non-runner. Market leader Maslak won at 9/4 having just under four lengths in hand over Unfurled at the line. This was a decent effort from Twiston-Davies' charge after such a long layoff.
I would have much preferred to have seen Brooklyn Brownie racing nearer the pace in the feature. The field were well spread out after just three furlongs or so and all the places went to those who raced close to the pace. BB, sent off at 15/2, still had plenty to do turning for home, but stayed on stoutly to finish fourth without every troubling the leaders. For me, Phil Kinsella's ride was somewhat frustrating...
Second favourite Black Jacari (9/4) finished runner-up in the juvenile hurdle. I'll be interested to see what connections make of the form. The horse travelled well through the race, although he appeared to hang his head to the left. Coming off the home turn, eventual winner Indian Groom (14/1) had the rail. Choc Thornton switched his charge to the outside to mount a challenge two out. BJ saw off favourite Woolfall Treasure and jumped the last with the winner but appeared to drift off a straight line, hanging left on the run-in. He should learn and improve for this; having said that, the winning owner said they thought their charge was four weeks away from peak fitness. Which horse would win a re-match?
Frascati Park opened a 6/4 chance on course which looked big given his previous form. Backed in to 10/11 favouritism he won ten lengths going away from Son Of Flicka.
Ouzbeck (15/8f) stumbled and unseated his rider at the sixth; that's novice chasing!
Divine Gift (16/1) was never competitive, finishing ninth, but Katies Tuitor (12/1) certainly was, benefitting from Noel Fehily's smart ride. The jockey took a couple of lengths out his field on the home turn and they couldn't get back to him. This was a very good performance by KT carrying top weight. Leslingtaylor (8/1) stayed on at the same pace to finish fifth.

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