BRIGG BLOG'S MARKET RASEN RACES PREVIEW

 

The horse that gave Sir Anthony McCoy victory in Market Rasen Racecourse’s major race of the year in 2014 is poised to bid to regain his crown on Saturday.
The Listed £50,000 Betfred Summer Plate is the feature contest in the Lincolnshire racecourse’s calendar and is held on Lincs FM Ladies’ Day.
Alongside the Listed Betfred TV Summer Hurdle, the steeple chase makes for the highlight of the jump racing season in the summer months.
With Sir Anthony having retired last year, It’s A Gimme, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, will have a new jockey this weekend.
The nine-year-old is one of 24 entries for the £50,000 race over two miles and five furlongs.
He can expect strong opposition from recent Market Rasen winners Cut The Corner and Sir Valentino, as well as from 2014 Cheltenham Festival winner Ballynagour, the highest-rated horse in the contest.
There could be a touch of celebrity about the day too, with TV presenter Jeremy Kyle being the part-owner of entrant Dormello Mo.
Three former winners at the Lincolnshire track – Mountainside, Regulation and Rejaah – are among the 21 entries for the £35,000 Betfred TV Summer Hurdle.
Two other entrants, Moabit and Red Tornado, are both seeking a fifth successive victory, while the joint highest-rated horse Gwafa won the classy Pertemps-sponsored Swinton Hurdle at Market Rasen’s sister Jockey Club racecourse at Haydock Park two months ago.
Trainers will decide on Friday which horses will take part in the races, both of which will be shown live on Channel 4.
Not only are there seven races on Saturday, visitors to the racecourse can also enjoy fashion shows from Ladida Boutique, live music from Marc Dillon and local Duo Molly & Will.
Race-goers are already getting ready for the ‘best dressed’ and ‘best hat’ competitions sponsored by The Health Management Trust. There are great prizes to be won and the judging panel includes the racecourse’s ‘Face of Ladies Days’, Lincolnshire photographer Phillipa Buss.
There is no need for spectators to rush away at the end of the afternoon for Lincs FM DJ Alex Cann will be holding an Après Racing party after the last race.
Nadia Gollings, General Manager, Market Rasen Racecourse, said: “Betfred & Lincs FM Ladies’ Day featuring the Summer Plate, the racecourse’s richest and most prestigious race of the year, in the middle of summer is always one of our most popular occasions of the year.
“Ladies’ days are one of the great success stories of the horse racing industry, helping to boost attendances for the country’s second most popular spectator sport which annually attracts six million visitors across Britain.”
The racecourse opens on Saturday, 16th July at 11.45am, two hours before the first scheduled race. Tickets are from just £9 in advance which can be purchased at http://marketrasen.thejockeyclub.co.uk or through the ticket line on 0344 579 3009. Accompanied children aged under 18 are admitted free of charge.
Market Rasen Racecourse is staging 22 jump racing meetings in 2016 and is a leading conference and events centre in the East Midlands.  
More information is available at www.marketrasenraces.co.uk