Market Rasen racign: Bowie caps home track hat-trick

It was Bowie’s third career win, all at Rasen and under jockey Tom Broughton he overcame a blunder at the second-last to win. His most recent victory had been back in 2014, but a third-place finish at Musselburgh earlier this year indicated he was getting back to his best.

Kent had feared the ground would be too soft for him for the final race of the afternoon.

“He likes better going, but the ground here that Steve Bakin prepares is really good,” he said.

“Although I have not had a win since Gonalston Cloud won here in the Lincolnshire National on Boxing Day, the yard has had some decent second and third places and is thriving.”

There was a fair crowd for Sunday’s meeting, but again some small fields.

The star performer was Forthefunofit (5/2f) who won the 32Red Class 3 Handicap Hurdle following a win at Ascot last month.

The horse, ridden by Noel Fehily for in-form trainer Jonjo O’Neill and owner JP McManus, looks set to make it a hat-trick before long as he remains on a decent mark.

Only two finished the second race, a Class 4 Novices Hurdle, with Get on the Yager, at 1/5f, winning for the Skelton brothers, trainer Dan and jockey Harry, sons of Rio Olympic gold medallist show jumper Nick.

Harry had his eyes on Cheltenham this week where he has several fancied rides for the Alcester family stable and where there should also be several Market Rasen winners in the fields over the festival’s four days.

“We have several fancied rides and I have schooled them this week,” said Harry. “But you just never know how they will run going into the festival.

“He (Get on the Yager) may have been odds on, but he never wins like a big favourite. The more you ask of him the more he gives. He had loads more under the bonnet today.”

Another short-priced winner at Rasen was Karisma King (100/30). The eight-year-old is trained by Sue Smith, always a popular winner at the course, and ridden by Paul Cook.

His hurdling career was decent, but his efforts over the bigger obstacles at Newcastle and Uttoxeter left much to be desired, so his win here by a length from Scooter was welcomed.

The next meeting at Market Rasen is on Monday, March 27.