Friday, September 28, 2012

Brief notes on tomorrow's Market Rasen card

Two listed races are the highlight of a decent card at Market Rasen tomorrow.

A couple of horses that have done this blog a favour over the summer (Smalib Monterg and Ugo) face stiff opposition against the likes of Local Hero, Kian's Delight and Absinthe in the handicap hurdle at 2.10. Local Hero had Kian's Delight one and a half lengths behind (Absinthe fourth) in the listed Summer Hurdle over course and distance back in July; since then the winner has had an outing on the Flat at Chester while the runner-up went on to take the Summer Hurdle at Perth. I fancied Absinthe for that Perth race but he was beaten fair and square by Peter Bowen's charge - Absinthe reopposes five pounds better off tomorrow so should turn the form around but I think Kian's Delight is progressive. Local Hero's jock can claim ten pounds (as he did in July) and on a strict reading of the form, he also has the beating of Kian's but Kian's Delight is my idea of the winner. At the foot of the handicap Nicky Henderson's Dubai Crest could be interesting - this evening layers appear undecided about this one with bet365 going 8/1 while Ladbrokes offer 14/1 - but in this ultra-competitve event I'm going for some each-way value and the 20/1 Stan James is offering about Kayaan, third in July's Summer Hurdle here, offers just that; Kayaan is another weighted to reverse form with Kian's Delight and is perhaps less exposed than some of the others mentioned.

I don't have a strong view on the listed chase at 2.40 but I'll keep an eye on Venetia Williams' Clouded Thoughts on his first run in this country.

On ratings Hilali is the one to beat in the 3.55 but is likely to be priced accordingly, a comment that also applies to The Romford Pele in the 4.30 - that one ran a stormer in the Cheltenham bumper to finish seventh at odds of 33/1. I'll watch Charlie Longsdon's No No Charlie in this as the trainer indicates in Mark Howard's One Jump Ahead that the gelding hasn't had the best of luck to date and is 'a very nice horse in the making'.

Another of Charlie Longsdon's, Spirit Of Shankly, is well tipped up in the aforemetioned publication and is declared for the concluding bumper; John Ferguson's newcomer Zarafshan is likely to be fit enough to do himself justice.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Kian's Delight was a non-runner in the listed hurdle which went to Local Hero (9/2). Selection Kayaan (9/1) made significant headway two out to take third while Absinthe (7/2f) ran a most disappointing race, being pulled up three from home.

Hilali (7/4) was beaten a neck by Grand Gold (9/1) but 4/7 favourite The Romford Pele has no answer to 4/1 chance Porgy - No No Charlie was a non-runner.

As expected Spirit Of Shankly (8/11f) took the bumper - in some style too - but Zarafshan (5/2) weakened in the final furlong, finishing fifth.