Friday, July 18, 2008

Market Rasen's Summer Plate

At the moment I'm breaking in a new pair of shoes; it feels like I'm walking about with a canoe attached to the end of each foot. Presently there are two things I have to look forward to - taking the 'canoes' off at the end of the working day and the Summer Plate at Market Rasen tomorrow. Still, I suppose I shouldn't grumble too much - I haven't had to spend a day at Royal Birkdale watching The Open.

Sixteen are set to go to post for the Summer Plate at 3.40. Peter Bowen has made a haibt of targeting this race - the stable field four runners this year. Andrew Barr, writing in the Weekender, highlights Yes Sir as the pick of the four but I prefer to look elsewhere. Evan Williams' William Butler bids to make this five on the bounce, having won four in the last three weeks, but this looks a big ask. Paul Nicholls' Oumeyade will have his supporters in a race that has gone to younger chasers more often than not in the last decade. Having said all that, I'm going to have an each-way wager on Brooklyn Brownie at around 12/1. He goes well here and was the subject of a decent report from his trainer earlier in the week. (I know - if his trainer can't say a good word about him, who can?)

On Racing Post ratings Advancement is the clear choice for the 2.05 but, don't be deceived, this is competitive. Two I'd consider at a price are Katies Tuitor who wouldn't want any more rain and Lord Baskerville.

Favourites have won six of the last nine runnings of the 4.15, with second favourites winning on the other three occasions - I favour Sendani above Southern Regent, while in the 2.40 I'd be tempted to take a chance on Akarshan from the in-form Evan Williams stable.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Canoe boots versus velcro boots...hard to say really.

In the PG tips house it's all a bit strange sport wise. We are following the Test cricket, even though we are not cricket people and watching a bit of the golf, even though we are not golf people either; it's hard to plug that Wimbledon gap!

Mrs Tips

GeeDee said...

Brooklyn Brownie, available at 10/1 in the morning, was sent off 7/1 and took up the running two out. Jumping the last upsides the eventual 16/1 winner Snoopy Loopy, BB couldn't find that bit extra to take the spoils, going down one and a half lengths; nonetheless this was a sterling effort. Peter Bowen has now won this race four times in the last six years.
The official going when racing started was soft, but Katies Tuitor, backed in from 10s to 7/1, still won this competitive handicap in taking style, having four lenghts in hand over Advancement (4/1f) at the line. I guess the handicapper will take a view after this. Lord Baskerville (20/1) would not have been particularly suited by the ground and lost his place as they raced out of the back straight, eventually finishing fourteenth of the fifteen runners.
Sendani (evens f) saw off Southern Regent but had no answer to third favourite Little Lu (9/2), being two and a half lengths adrift at the line.
Alkarshan (11/4f) was impressive, winning by an eased down seveteen lengths.