Summer Plate Handicap Chase: Big Race Preview And Tip For Market Rasen Jumping Highlight

Summer Plate Handicap Chase: Big Race Preview And Tip For Market Rasen Jumping Highlight
15:03, 20 Jul 2018

To the delight of many National Hunt fans, Market Rasen racecourse opens their gates on Saturday to host a stellar National Hunt Jumps card with the feature of the meeting, the 188bet Summer Plate Handicap Chase.

The race is open to horses aged four and older and is run over a distance of 2m5f with 15 runners.

The market this week has been very fruitful as punters look to get stuck into their first taste of National Hunt Racing before the season proper starts in October. The betting has almost six co-second-favourites at this current stage and there is likely to be plenty more movement in the market before the off.

Trainer Paul Nicholls looks to hold all the aces however, he has the front two in the market with Bagad Bihoue ridden by Nick Scholfield and last years winner Alcala, seemingly the choice of former number one (now turned freelance) jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.

The two have met only recently when finishing first and second respectively at Newton Abbot Racecourse last month. This weekend’s market leader Bagad Bihoue came out on top on his reappearance beating his stablemate by 3 ½ lengths. He was the choice of Sam Twiston-Davies on that particular day and he also had two of today’s rivals put to the sword in Viconte Du Noyer and Days Ahead.

Jockey Daryl Jacob will take the ride on Callett Mad who features prominently in the betting but has not been seen over the larger obstacles since April last year when finishing a strong second to Label Des Obeaux in a Handicap off a mark of 142. He arrives only 1lb higher here today but that was over the 3m6f trip and this distance will likely be a bare minimum for the stout stayer. Connections may be using this as an early season marker to decide what route to take with there star after his progressive showing over hurdles towards the back end of last season and he is an interesting runner.

Summer Jumps meetings can’t be talked about without mentioning the prolific pair of Dan and Harry Skelton, they look likely to saddle Too Many Diamonds who squeaks in at the bottom of the field for in-form connections. Trainer Dan Skelton has improved his gelding to the tune of 20lbs since May and will step him up in class to look for a fantastic four-timer.

Paul Nichols will also look to play his wild card with Monsieur Gibraltar, the smart seven-year-old took the Novice chase route back in 2016, but failing to get a win, (including in this race) it was decided that the Hunters chase route would be best option. Grabbing four wins in eight starts, he is now starting to look progressive but does need to prove himself under rules, meaning he could be a surprise each way player.

All in all, an exciting heat, but it is hard to ignore the claims of last years winner ALCALA, he has likely to have been targeted at this race to gain back to back victories for his trainer and is now 4lb better off with stablemate Bagad Bihoue. 

Sam Twiston-Davies opting to ride the horse he beat aboard the favourite last time sends out significant tells that the yard is expecting a much bigger performance from their star and at around 8/1 he is certainly worth taking a punt. At bigger prices, I like the chances of Monsieur Gibraltar who brings a bit of the unknown at an each-way price.

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