4.15pm Market Rasen Tips & Betting Preview 03/07/2016

Only six runners have been declared for the £15,000 feature on Market Rasen’s Sunday card but our race preview identifies a well-handicapped contender. Read our betting tips to find out where the value lies.

IN SUMMARY: Rolling Maul and Mr Shantu come here after finishing first and third respectively in the same event at Worcester 11 days ago there’s every chance they’ll both go well again. However, a couple of their rivals, namely Kalifourchon and ROYALE DJANGO, look attractively weighted and might fight this out. Kalifourchon seemed to lose his way on softish ground during the winter but will be much better suited by today’s conditions and, following a break, can resume the excellent progress he made last summer if today’s step up in trip suits, but slight preference is for Royale Django. Tim Vaughan’s 7yo has disappointed in his last two chases but is useful when on song in that sphere and, if his enthusiasm is rekindled by first-time cheekpieces today, he’s been given an excellent chance by the handicapper off a hurdle mark of 114.

1 Golden Jess – Produced an excellent performance to made all at Cartmel (3m1f, good) last summer and can be excused his subsequent hurdle defeat in Grade 2 company; however, returned from absence with two poor Flat runs last month and this 12yo now reverts to hurdling off a career-high mark.

2 Rolling Maul – Swapped blinkers for refitted cheekpieces and returned to winning ways at Worcester (2m7f, good) last month, where he didn’t travel well but produced a strong late burst to strike the front in the closing stages; has become quite difficult to predict, though, and subsequent 6lb rise leaves him with little margin for error; tongue-tie now added.

3 Mr Shantu – Back from absence with three decent efforts in recent weeks, most recently when third (beaten just under 5l) to Rolling Maul at Worcester (2m7f, good) 11 days ago; 6lb better off with that rival here and has good chance to gain his revenge if refitted cheekpieces have positive effect.

4 Kalifourchon – Made rapid progress to win three of his first four handicaps last summer (2m-2m4f); seemed to go off the boil on softish ground over the winter and returns from 164-day absence with something to prove, but is well handicapped now and will be hard to beat if back on song over new trip; tongue-tie now added.

5 Royale Django – Placed off much higher mark in a Ludlow chase (3m, soft) in February and was in front when falling on next start in this sphere; not in same form on last couple of outings but been given an excellent chance by the handicapper now back over hurdles and will be fine on today’s ground; sports first-time cheekpieces.

6 Factor Fifty – Yet to add to his 2m4f novice hurdle win here in summer 2014; ran quite well when fifth at Southwell (2m4f, good) on latest outing in October but returns from 255-day absence on the same mark and still needs to prove he’s fully effective over this sort of trip.

myracing Forecast Prices: 2/1 Rolling Maul, 3/1 Kalifourchon, 7/2 Mr Shantu, 6/1 Royale Django, 7/1 Factor Fifty, 16/1 Golden Jess