17:04 That's it from Market Rasen's all hurdle card.
One note from the stewards room, Noel Fehily picked up a three day ban for excessive use of the whip on Bench Warrent in the 3:10.
From a pleasant evening, with a pretty sunset, here in Lincolnshire it is a very good evening.
17:01 Well he may have run amok before but I would suggest if Louis Ludwick does calm down then he may have a small race in him.
He only managed third today but was in contention as they turned for home with his early antics probably taking it out of him.
The one runner with experience, Stanley Hall, set off in front and was fairly impressive on the straight but terrible on the turns – unfortunately they don’t have jump racing at Newmarket any more.
Harellie, trained by George Baker, was sent off the 5/4 favourite and ran no sort of race. Was always last and finished tailed off.
Elsafeer was with the pace throughout, tracking the leader until taking the lead in the home straight. Lemonade Jack was soon in contention and the pair fought a good battle with Elsafeer just doing enough to stay in front and record a ½ length visctory.
The pair finished nine lengths ahead of third placed Louis Ludwick.
The win was trainer Neil Mulhollands first ever bumper winner.
16:45 A touch of drama before our last as Louis Ludwick ran amok in the parade ring before unshipping Tom Messenger.
He then took hold going to the start with what must have been a painful ride as the jockey did not have his feet in the stirrups.
16:30 At Ascot on Saturday Wendel “stole” a race by getting a flyer at the start. Although not quite as high a quality race, our feature race over 2m 1f followed a similar pattern
Carrickboy, trained by Venetia Williams and ridden by Sam Thomas, was the one to get a flyer, soon had a commanding lead and never looked to be in any danger, giving the trainer / rider combo a quick fire double.
Squadron was left with the job of heading the remainder but that took its toll as he faded turning for home. European Dream emerged from the pack and was the nearest we ever saw to a challenger, although to call him a challenger is somewhat flattering.
Pagan Starprincess came with a typical late run but finished a never nearer third.
16:00 Backers of Cherokee Star in our fourth race must feel somewhat miffed. Eight runners went to post but Welcome Cat was withdrawn at the start by the vet, leaving only seven runners and reducing the each way betting from 1-2-3 to 1-2.
We saw a very short priced favourite with Venetia Williams Aachen sent off the 1/6 favourite.
Nowzdetime, a non-runner earlier on, was fractious in the parade ring before the race and was no better in the race giving Olivia Maylam a torrid ride.
Cherokee Star set off in front but Nowzdetime was taking such a strong hold he was soon in front and had quite a lead passing the post the first time. However he ran very wide and by the first in the back straight Cherokee Star was back in front with the favourite upsides.
By the next the favourite had the lead under Sam Thomas and was never in any danger.
Lucy Wadham’s Super Directa made an attempt to close the gap on the leader but was never a serious danger and Aachen won as he pleased. Super Directa came home seven lengths behind the winner and a distance ahead of third placed Cherokee Star.
15:17 Our longest contest of the afternoon over 2m 6f with just the five runners.
It may have been a small field but it was a cracking finish. The betting had it as a two horse race with Bench Warrant and Wychwoods Legend at the top of the market.
Bench Warrant set off in front at a reasonable pace. As in the previous race they were, more or less, in Indian file for most of the race.
Wychwoods Legend was in second, with Paradigm Investor and Punjabi Army together in third and Charingworth making mistakes in rear.
The first action came at the fiert on the second circuit, when Paradihm Invertor decanted Brian Hughes.
Approaching three out the four remaining contenders all had chances, if good enough.
Charingworth was the first to crack, leaving three in the contest, by the time they entered the home straight Punjabi Army was also out of contention.
We then saw a great battle down the home straight in which Wychwoods Legend did everything bar get his head in front of Bench Warrant.
A good race with two battling runners. I have said it before and I will say it again but who needs big fields for an exciting contest?
14:45 Not a great deal to say about the second contest, a 2m 3f maiden, which saw Our Hero sent off the 1/4 favourite.
He duly won the contest, although if you were going to be churlish you could say you would expect a more convincing win. In the winners defence it could be argued the soft going was against this giant of a horse.
For-three-quarters of the race the field progressed in Indian file. El Chico, Our Hero, Lake Wakatipu, Callitwhatyoulike with Briery Star coming up the rear. The only incident of note was Briery Star making a slight mistake at the 5th .
As they turned for home Our Hero took up the running but Lake Wakatipu, the outsider of the five, tried to make a race of it but the favourite had his measure, even more so when the second clattered through the second last, and eventually came home a five length victor.
Workmanlike rather than convincing is probably the best description.
Winning trainer Charlie Longston said he was unsure if the winner would need the run as he has had little chance to train properly in the past few weeks.
14:20 A change to the official going, which is now soft
14:19 The opener in our all hurdle card also saw our largest field of the afternoon with eleven going to post.
It was a tight betting heat which saw Tosula opening as favourite but drifting in the face of support Dr Richard Newland’s Glimmer of Light, who was sent off the 100/30 jolly.
The bookies knew what they were doing as Tosula ran no sort of race and was tailed off in the far straighta before running on past beaten horses to finish ninth.
Government was the pace setter, with Festival Dreams on his quarters. Although as they passed the judge with a circuit to go there were four abreast with Governance, Festival Dreams, Winds Supreme
and Bawnafaugh sharing the front running.
As they progressed down the back straight Safin made eye catching progress to take up the running.
As they turned for home the only conceivable challenger was Glimmer Of Light but the leader had plenty in hand.
The 2½ length winning margin is probably misleading as the winner was eased. Glimmer Of Light came home second, seven lengths ahead of Festival Dreams.
13:33 Good afternoon from Market Rasen where the weather is overcast but dry and much milder than of late.
Not a huge crowd at the moment but we still have half an hour before our first.
We have a top commentator here this afternoon, with Richard Hoiles making a rare appearance at the Lincolnshire course.
09:28 Market Rasen's card today is a hurdle only one after the recent bad weather left the chase course waterlogged.
The official going is Heavy, soft in places.
There is currently one non-runner, details on the right.
Our selections for today are as follows:-
2:05 2 Tosula
2:35 2 Our Hero
3:10 5 Wychwoods Legend
3:45 1 Aachen
4:20 3 Pagan Starprincess
Return to race archive: |
Non-Runners
2:35
6 Nowzdetime (double declaration)
3:45
5 Welcome Cat (withdrawn)
Results
2:05
1st 10 Safin 7/2
2nd 7 Glimmer Of Light 10/3 fav
3rd 8 Festival Dreams 5/1
14 Ran
Distances 2½ & 7
Fav second
Tote
Win £4.50
Place £1.60 £1.50 £1.60
Exacta £17.50
CSF £16.11
Time 4' 18.6"
2:35
1st 2 Our Hero 1/4 fav
2nd 5 Lake Wakatipu 33/1
5 Ran NR 6
Distances 5
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.20
Place £1.10 £8.80
Exacta £9.90
CSF £8.47
Time 4' 59.4"
3:10
1st 1 Bench Warrent evens fav
2nd 5 Wychwoods Legend 13/8
5 Ran
Distances ½
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.90
Place £1.10 £1.30
Exacta £2.50
CSF £2.94
Time 5' 30.9"
3:45
1st 1 Aachen 1/6 fav
2nd 4 Super Directa 16/1
7 Ran W/D 5
Distances 7
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.10
Place £1.20 £2.30
Exacta £3.50
CSF £3.69
Time 4' 16.1"
4:20
1st 4 Carrickboy 11/4 fav
2nd 2 European Dream 13/2
7 Ran
Distances 7
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.50
Place £2.40 £3.50
Exacta £26.90
CSF £20.56
Time 4' 14.0"
4:50
1st 4 Elsafeer 5/2
2nd 2 Lemonade Jack 5/2
5 Ran
Distances 1/2
Fav 1 Harellie 5/4 (last)
Tote
Win £4.00
Place £1.40 £1.60
Exacta £10.40
CSF £9.15
Time 4' 23.6" |
