Three at Market Rasen!

Myristica Runs At Market Rasen Today!

Today we have three runners at Market Rasen, Oceanline, Nibras Gold and Myristica.  Oceanline runs in the opening handicap hurdle over 2m4f and Jack Tudor rides.  There is very good prize money on offer for this 0-110 handicap hurdle and we just sneak in on top weight after being dropped for his comeback run at Uttoxeter last time.  We were a little disappointed with his run last time as he appeared in great form at home beforehand.  While we thought he may improve a little for that outing he did not finish as well as we expected and so blinkers go on for the first time this afternoon.  He has only won the one hurdle race but possesses a fair amount of latent ability and a mark of 110 looks well within his scope given his flat form.  This is a competitive affair but at 14/1 I would hope he has a good each way chance.

Nibras Gold (David Noonan) and Myristica (Jack Tudor) both run in the 2.40pm Summer handicap hurdle over two miles.  Nibras Gold hasn’t done much wrong in six starts over hurdles in his career to date, winning twice and being placed on three of his other four starts.  He won nicely on his comeback run this summer at Ffos Las and finished third at Worcester last time.  He has cheek pieces on this afternoon for the first time and although this is competitive he has an each way chance at 16/1 in the colours of the Value Racing Club.

Myristica makes her handicap debut in the same race off a mark of 112 and Jack Tudor rides.  This will be the toughest test she has faced over hurdles but you could not fail to be impressed with her three wins in novice company.  The horse that she beat at Worcester last time won during the week so the form is solid and and she is a hardened flat race campaigner so won’t mind the hustle and bustle of a larger field race.  She jumps and travels well and while we might be chucking her in at the deep end a little she deserves to take her chance and we hope she won’t be far away.  She is about 9/2 joint favourite in the betting.

As well as Market Rasen, there is also a jumps meeting at Cartmel this afternoon along with plenty of flat action.  They race at Newbury, Newmarket, Ripon, Doncaster, and Haydock while in Ireland they have a big meeting on the flat at the Curragh.  The Irish Oaks takes place at 3.45pm and Savethelastdance is a short priced favourite to win for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien.  This filly was very impressive in winning at Chester before she finished runner up in the Epsom Oaks to Soul Sister where I am not sure how well she handled the track, like some don’t.  The Ballydoyle team have four of the eight runners in the race but I would not be shying away from the favourite.   

Rory McIlory made hard work of his round at the Open Golf yesterday, he did finish -1 but is now 9 shots behind the leader, American Brian Harman.  Conditions looks tough on the course for most however and so I am not sure he is out of contention just yet. 

Meanwhile at Old Trafford, the England cricketers made it to 592 all out and Johnny Bairstow was left on 99 not out!  That gave England a 275 run lead but Australia didn’t make a bad start to their second innings, although they did get danger man Usman Kwhaja out for just 18 runs.  England are in a strong postion to hopefully win the Test and draw the series level if the weather does not cause too much disruption today.   

What do you call a red-headed baker?  A gingerbread man!  Have a good day!