Summer Plate Preview

Market Rasen host the biggest day of their season tomorrow with the Betfred Summer Plate the feature race at 3.30. In this post, I am going to pick the bones apart to this big midsummer pot and hopefully find some angles.

Paddy The Hare lengthening away!!!

The early favourite is Paddy The Hare, a horse who recently ended a long run of placed efforts with a win at Uttoxeter, before making it two on the bounce over this course and distance last time out, breaking the track record in the process. He is clearly at his peak physically and mentally at the moment, and must have a decent chance for Dr Richard Newland and Tom O'Brien.
Dr Newland has two other darts to throw at this in the shape of Pineau De Re and Bobowen. I think Bobowen may be a bit high in the weights, but this is his time of the year, as he won four on the bounce through July and August in 2012.

Pineau De Re made a very eye catching stable debut last time

Pineau De Re is one I really fancy here though in the hands of Richard Johnson. I was at Uttoxeter when this son of Maresca Sorrento made his debut for the doctor in the valuable Summer Cup, won by Storm Survivor. He travelled like a dream throughout the race, looking the likely winner turning for home, but then he got tired and gradually faded into sixth place. If you stopped that race at the distance tomorrow's race is run over, he may well have won. With the drop in trip here, and a drop of 2lbs by the handicapper, I think Pineau De Re is definitely the one to beat.

I am not sure that Dineur will get the trip but I fully respect his trainer Peter Bowen who is in great form and has a very good record at the Lincolnshire venue.

Last year's winning partnership of jockey David Bass and trainer Lawney Hill combine with Kings Legacy, formerly with Paul Nicholls. The big worry with this lad is jumping, as he has fallen once under rules over fences and twice in points. He is classy though and a mark of 129 is not impossible.

I am not a Problema Tic fan as I don't like his temperament. If he fancies it, he could go okay but that's not a certainty for sure.

Buck Mulligan is consistent and enjoys the fast pace of these contests, but the handicapper doesn't really get off his back so may be a little bit vulnerable.

Paul Nicholls has the top weight Woolcombe Folly who has been running very well in defeat of late, but the issue is that he has to concede upwards of 10lbs to all his rivals.

The bottom weight Grey Soldier will need to improve considerably if he is to play a part at the business end of the race.

Finger Onthe Pulse to roll back the years?

I would be a little surprised if the 12 year old veteran Finger Onthe Pulse didn't find a few too good to be honest, although he did win last time out. Stablemate Galaxy Rock could go well, as he is well handicapped and the mount of AP McCoy, but I'm not sure about his speed for this race, so I'll swerve.

I can't really have Royale's Charter as he jumped poorly through the winter and his yard are having very few runners to gauge their form.

Gentleman Anshan is too high in the weights now I think but it'd be great to see a small yard like Rosemary Gasson to have one run well in such a big race.

Brian Ellison has two runners, and of them I prefer Viva Colonia ridden by Noel Fehily, who loves quick ground and he has been keeping busy on the Flat.

Donnas Palm could go well

I do think Donnas Palm could run a big race towards the foot of the weights for Tim Vaughan. His runners are definitely turning a corner and this mare is now on a dangerous mark. She won a Grade 2 novice chase in Ireland about eighteen months ago when with Noel Meade, and tomorrow runs off 128 in a handicap. Michael Byrne takes another 5lbs off and I think she is overpriced.

In summary, Pineau De Re, Viva Colonia and Donnas Palm are the three I like for value.

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Best of luck,
Will