Market Rasen Races
MUNTAMI (12-1), trained by John Harris at Melton Mowbrey, has shown little over hurdles or on the flat since landing a claimer at Market Rasen in June, but he clearly has a liking for our local course, as his last two wins have come here.
In the opening race on Sunday's card, the Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, Michael O'Connor on board produced his mount at just the right moment and the grey at the age of nine, showed a clean pair of heals to his younger rivals once the winning post came in sight.
"The faster ground helped him and he was full of energy. I will probably bring him back up here for another run in a month," said the trainer, who has clearly spotted his horse likes the track.
Scamblesby trainer Steve Gollings saddled top weight Tide Slider in the race. The horse showed up well in the early stages but failed to stay with the leaders once they were in the straight.
Moonstreaker (5-2) gave Adam Pogson a great ride in the second race, the Blue Square New iPhone Novices Hurdle, making all to win.
Joint favourite King in Waiting made a gallant effort to catch the winner in the straight, but Pogson always looked comfortable in the saddle. Last time out Moonstreaker went far too fast on ground too soft for his liking, but on the good going here, Pogson made sure his mount had plenty left for the run in.
Trainer Sue Smith's Yorkshire yard has been short of winners of late, but her excellent record at Market Rasen was again evident as Work Boy won the first chase of the afternoon. Backed down to 4-1, the horse improved on his runner up effort at Sedgefield last time out to score impressively. Mrs. Smith's husband, the legendary showjumper Harvey, had a broad grin as he collected the prize.
Chasing has not gone too well for Bold Punt, who was a useful point to pointer and hurdler earlier in his career, but Denis O'Regan had him up front for much of the way in the Blue Square Cashback Novices Handicap Chase.
Wearing cheekpieces for the first time proved rewarding as Bold Punt (3-1) held off Brian Harding on Chicago Alley in determined style on the run in.
Pembokeshire trainer Peter Bowen's winning exploits at the big July Summer Plate meeting are well documented, with Iron Man perhaps the best of his stable. For the fifth race Bowen saddled Ballyvesey and Tom O'Brien produced him very late to just get up by two lengths from the Howard Johnson trained Key Time. Key Time had not been seen on a racecoure for 501 days but hurdled beautifully.
Bowen felt the near 200 mile journey had been well worth it: "He will go chasing when the next season starts. He does not like it when he gets in front and sometimes reacts, but Tom gets on well with him and produced him late. Its good to win here and I hope to have Iron Man back here in July."
Cloudy Spirit, sent to post second favourite at 2-1, had apprentice Harry Skelton on board in the last hurdle of the afternoon and found extra in the straight to see off a 100-1 winner last time out in Fahrisee, while odds on favourite Overlaw won the final chase at the bottom of the card, seeing off three runners saddled by Market Rasen trainer Michael Chapman. The local horses all finished out of the frame.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Market Rasen
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -3 C to -2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
