Market Rasen Summer Plate predictions: Statuario can take care of Bowen stablemate
- Saturday is a Premier Raceday from Market Rasen, which includes the Summer Plate
- Recommended bets:
- Flying Fortune to win the 2.05pm
- Black Poppy to win the 2.40pm
- Statuario to win the 3.15pm
It is Summer Plate day at Market Rasen on Saturday and the feature at the Lincolnshire track is among three live races on ITV.
The racing is ultra-competitive and there is undoubtedly value for customers to find. We have provided a bet in the Summer Plate and one in the two contests on the undercard at Market Rasen on Saturday afternoon.
2.05pm - Handicap Hurdle
Key Talking Point: Can Pyffo bring up the hat-trick?
Jonjo O’Neill has extracted plenty of improvement out of the six-year-old Pyffo this term and this course-and-distance winner arrives seeking a third straight success. He is improving, although could be up against it off top weight in the toughest race he has encountered.
Best Bet: Flying Fortune to win
The Bowen yard has a fine record at Market Rasen and it is easy to understand the market move for their Flying Fortune after final declarations.
Flying Fortune is impeccably bred as her talented and versatile dam landed a Group 2 on the Flat (Lancashire Oaks) and Grade 2 in the National Hunt game (Aintree mares’ bumper).
It is unlikely we have seen the best of this five-year-old, who races in a handicap for the second time.
Her first start in such a race yielded a commendable runner-up finish at Southwell on ground that was likely softer than ideal. Dropped back to novice company last time, she only gave best to the thriving Gale Mahler.
2.40pm - Summer Handicap Hurdle
Key Talking Point: Will Kihavah capitalise on decent Flat mark?
Adrian Keatley is an astute dual-purpose operator and Kihavah is back over jumps after running well on the Flat of late.
He is rated 95 in the other sphere and can boast three York successes from seven runs on the Knavesmire. He is potentially still well treated of 127 over hurdles and is likely to have been aimed at this.
Best Bet: Black Poppy to win
Kerry Lee knows how to land a big handicap and it looks significant that she has targeted Black Poppy at this.
We have not seen the seven-year-old since he chased home Constitution Hill on Boxing Day in the Christmas Hurdle. The fact he finished in close proximity to good hurdlers like Rubaud and First Street when fourth that day suggests he can make hay off an unchanged mark of 130.
He possesses a good record fresh and the form of his Cheltenham second to the well-handicapped Our Champ before the Christmas Hurdle also reads well.
Sam Twiston-Davies, who is 8-23 for the yard over the past five years, is a noteworthy jockey booking.
3.15pm Summer Plate Handicap Chase
Key Talking Point: Can Francky Du Berlais regain his crown?
Eleven-year-old Francky Du Berlais won the Summer Plate in 2022 and is out for his third success in Market Rasen’s biggest prize. Recent performances suggest he has not lost his zest for the game and he sits on a dangerous mark for the Bowens.
Best Bet: Statuario to win
Perhaps Francky Du Berlais’s stablemate Statuario is the horse to focus on.
Statuario finished third in this two years ago when he was operating at a lower level, but arrives in the form of his life after smashing the 3m chase track record at Perth last time. He beat subsequent Summer Cup winner Hang In There that day and added to his 2m4f chase record at Perth.
He arrives with outstanding claims on a big day for the Bowens, with the drop back in trip holding no concern and fast ground to suit.
