4.00pm Market Rasen Tips & Betting Preview 09/07/2017

The feature race of Sunday’s Market Rasen card is a 0-135 chase over an extended 2m 5f. Read on for our runner by runner preview and expert tip.

IN SUMMARY: Plenty of front runners here which means that this is going to be a real stamina test. Brave Spartacus is probably the best of those, especially on his old form that includes a win in the Summer Plate here in 2015. He doesn’t look capable of running to that level anymore but he is a solid place contender. FLYING EAGLE has been winning point to points of late and while this is tougher back in handicap company, his form under rules in the past still gives him an excellent chance to continue his winning sequence.

1 BRAVE SPARTACUS – Winner of the Summer Plate over this course and distance in 2015, he has slid down the handicap since those days. Has struck up a good relationship with Emma Todd, placed the last twice over fences from the same mark as this. He is one of a number in here who like to go from the front, so there should be a decent pace on, but he will find it hard to dominate as he likes.

2 FOUNDATION MAN – Front runner had a good time of things on quick ground last year, clocking up three wins. He has failed to get anywhere close to the level of those victories in a pair of runs this season. He is just a couple of pounds above his last winning mark but in his current form, he is tough to support with other front runners in opposition.

3 FLYING EAGLE – Has been making hay in recent times for Mickey Bowen in point to points, re-joining his father Peter’s yard back under rules. He was well backed the last time he appeared in this discipline at Chepstow, unlucky not to finish a little closer having been hampered late by a faller. Has more than enough form under rules to suggest this mark is workable and his excess stamina from wins over further will be no bad thing with so many front runners in opposition.

4 THE DOORMAN – Has rediscovered a little more sparkle since joining Ben Haslam, picking up a couple of hurdles in May. He flopped badly back over the bigger obstacles last time and having fallen or unseated four times in nine starts over fences, he is difficult to support with any confidence.

5 MAXED OUT KING – Another front runner, he has rapidly made up into a far superior chaser than hurdler, winning three of his five starts so far over fences. That has seen his mark sky rocket by twenty six pounds but this step up in trip may yet unlock more improvement, but his chance may be compromised early on if he is (as expected) taken on for the lead by a number of others in here.

6 SHADY GLEN – Tends to show his best form over a little further than this, which would normally be a concern on a sharp track. So many front runners in the race though should make this a proper test and he may find his extra stamina reserves helping him late on. Was placed off two pounds lower last season, so although he looks a little high in the weights to win, he may get involved in the places.