FORM REVIEW
AND RIDERS OF NOTE
BURTON
MARKET RASEN
SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2002

by Dom Bradshaw

HUNT
Fine Times

A justifiable favourite on the day, but had to pull out all of the stops to see off the challenge of the Ababou. Loves Market Rasen and looks a progressive type, but will find things tougher in better company.

Ababou
A cracking first British run from this six-year-old French import, he looked to have every chance until being tapped for toe between the last two. Jumped well on the whole and looks a “good thing” for a maiden and has the scope to improve further.
 

Hopping Mad
Stepped up on his run behind Fine Times at the LUHC meeting, finishing closer to the winner than previously. Jumps really well and is capable of taking a maiden

CONFINED
Just Jake

Comfortably followed up his win at the LUHC meeting under a confident ride from Nicky Tinkler. Seems to relish the tight turns of Market Rasen and will continue to score on the easier tracks.
 

Eddie
Well backed at the Brocklesby meeting, but was available at 16/1 here. Jumped really well and although no chance with the winner, he wasn’t disgraced. Would seem to be a little one paced, but his jumping is an asset and deserves a small race.

Polly Live Wire
A diminutive mare by El Conquistador and despite her lack of size, she really does give her all. Looks to have improved since leaving the Millington stable and was doing her best work at the end of the race. Needs a real test of stamina and will be seen at her best on longer courses.

Macfin
Never a real danger, but if able to reproduce this form then would have a serious chance of landing a restricted. Like Polly Live Wire, looks to require a real test of stamina.

LADIES OPEN
Upham Lord
Arguably the best Ladies horse in the country at the moment. Has developed a real rapport with Jill Dawson after a shaky start last season. Has a high cruising speed and able to quicken when required, it will take a serious horse to beat him while he’s in this vein of form.

Monkey Ago
A cracking seasonal debut by the evergreen 15-year-old. A one stage looked to have a serious chance of tackling Upham Lord (possibly flattered), but ran out of gas between the third and second last. Finished well clear of the third and will come on a bundle for the run, he should have no problem in scoring against lesser rivals.

Temple Garth
Came out of the clouds to finish a well-beaten third. Looks to need a really testing trip.

O’Fiach’s Hope
Well supported in the market and was still travelling well when crashing out on the second circuit. This was his second fall inside a week (lost Gemma Hutchinson at the first in a Folkstone hunter chase). Has ability but looks headstrong and needs to concentrate on his fences.

RESTRICTED DIVISION ONE
Weavers Choice

Followed up his Horseheath maiden victory in good style, making all and quickening up nicely at the end. Obviously a decent sort of animal, he should be able to progress through the ranks and must be followed.

Gymcrak Gorjos
A good seasonal debut. Lost his chance when the leaders quickened up on the second circuit and chased the winner in vain to finish six lengths second. Won his maiden at Market Rasen and has been placed in two restricteds here. Looks a ready made restricted winner on a similar course.

Paddington Jones
Winner of a weak Brocklesby hunt race, he stepped up considerably on that run finishing third. Although this was a decent run, it would appear that he might have his work cut out if he is to score in this grade.

RESTRICTED DIVISION TWO
Gunmetal

His first completion since taking a Brocklesby maiden two years ago. Was given an easy run at Brocklesby last weekend and stayed on well under a driving ride from Steve Charlton. Only a seven year old, but need to improve if he’s to step up in class. One to keep an eye on.

Henry Henbit
This was a good run on his first attempt in restricted company. Looked to still hold a chance when hampered by two loose horses on the final bend, but it’s hard to say if he would have beaten the winner. An improving type and should take a race of this calibre before long.

CLB Jemilla
Like Polly Live Wire, there’s not a lot of this mare, but she always gives her best. Doesn’t appear to fully get the trip and struggles to carry the weight. Would probably be better off in ladies races off 11st, even though she is yet to land a restricted. Is going to remain hard to place.

Via De La Valle
Was still going well when losing Lucy Coney at the 14th. Would appear to hold every chance of scoring in this grade.

MENS OPEN
Copper Thistle

Jumped impeccably and galloped his rivals into the ground. Looks back to his best, but remains vulnerable to younger speedier types. His flawless jumping is his main asset and will continue to beat less fluent types.

Oliver Himself
Was always struggling to go with the winner, but came back lame and sadly appears to have broken down again. A sad moment for connections and would have been a serious horse if his legs had been better.

Rio’s Lord
Stayed on well to take third, but done no favours by the unique urgings of Patrick Millington. Like most of the stables horses, he never appears to run two races the same (though unlikely to be the horses fault) and it will take a brave person to “have the money down” on him next time.

OPEN MAIDEN DIVISION ONE
Gale Damage

Stepped up on his third to Vinto Tinto (subsequently placed in a hunter chase) at the LUHC meeting a fortnight earlier to take the race with relevant ease. Has looked a “bit of a thinker” on his past couple of runs, but did nothing wrong here. The Robinson yard do well with this type of horse and should be taking a restricted before the season’s end.

Golden Rivet
An eye-catching debutant from the Gill Walford yard. Stayed on well under a nice ride from Mark Walford to finish a good second. Only a five-year-old (by Weld), he is one for the notebook.

My Native Knight
Looked well in the paddock and ran well for a long way before weakening. Perhaps not totally suited by the sticky going, he should have a chance of taking a small race.

Redsands
Was well supported in the market, but pulled far too hard and was pulled up early in the race. Will need to learn to settle better, but is from a good yard (Tony Walker) and shouldn’t be written off at this early stage.

Teeton Priceless
Ran well, but had no chance with the winner when coming down two out. Has run well in this grade twice and has chance of taking a maiden.

OPEN MAIDEN DIVISION TWO
Miss Zarnni

Looked well in the paddock and took the race with relative ease. Should have chances in restricteds.

Eastern Point
Nibbled at in the market. Looked to be tailing off, but stayed on, making good headway late on to finish second. This looked to be a confidence restoring run after his tumble on the previous outing and can take a race of this ilk.

Sharp Madam
Lightly raced, but well related, being a half sister to the fragile Oliver Himself. Looked to be going well until weakening quickly and finished third. Possibly bogged down in the ground should run well on better ground.

Millennium Gold
Heavily backed and looked to be going very nicely when unseating Nicky Tinkler five from home. Must be followed and one for the notebook.

OPEN MAIDEN DIVISION THREE
Bedtime Boys

From the Caroline Bailey yard, opened at 2/1 and was backed into evens in seconds. Supporters were in no danger when he smoothly took up the running two out and he won as he pleased. Only a five-year-old (by Gran Alba) and potentially looks a very nice horse.

Ad Lib
Was nibbled at in the market (20/1 into 14/1) and gave e/w supporters a good run for their money to finish second under a power packed ride from Andy Martin. The Rosemary Gasson\Andy Martin partnership do extremely well with their horses and I will be surprised if this one does score before the end of the season.

Geomar
Ran creditably for Annabelle Armitage to finish third. Jumps well and deserves a small success.

Just A Drummer
Not put into the race for the second successive time and seems to be having a gentle introduction to pointing.  One to keep an eye on.

OPEN MAIDEN DIVISION FOUR
Ice Saint

Rewarded after his unlucky second last time out, but the task was made a lot easier when On The Bone fell when upsides two out. Seems a weak finisher and although he jumps well, he’ll find life tougher in restricted company.

Strong King
Made late ground to be a fast finishing second. By Strong Gale, so will probably want better ground and can improve on this good introduction to pointing.

Madmidge
With the leaders for most of the way but weakened to finish third. Ran well on his first completion in points and should have a squeak in maidens.

Minster Echo
Not knocked about by Guy Brewer and stayed on to finish fourth. May have a chance when more competitive.

On The Bone
Still bang in contention when capsizing two from home. Is starting to look a real contender in maidens and should have a chance of landing one with luck on her side.

OPEN MAIDEN DIVISION FIVE
Noble Affair

Came home well clear for Joe Docker on her racecourse debut and is clearly a useful sort. Can take a restricted this season.

Its-On-The-Cards
Stayed on past grief stricken horses to finish a well-beaten second. Slow and extremely moderate, but a steady jumper and stays all day. Provides a lot of fun for the owner\rider, Rachel Atkinson.

Mighty Rising
Well beaten in third. Is relatively inexperienced and will improve for the run.

Tellaporky
Long-standing older maiden (13-year-old). Prominent for a long way but tried his best to get rid of rider James Owen on more than one occasion before weakening to finish fourth. May finally one day get his head in front, but will need everything in his favour if he’s to do so.

Magic Performer
Beaten in second when coming down at the last, which was unlucky as up to this, it had been a good debut by this six-year-old by Tragic Role. Had a tough race here and if recovered from the heavy fall, then he may be able to score.

Highlands II
Well supported favourite, but was given an easy introduction by Gary Hamner. Didn’t seem to enjoy the ground, but from a good yard and should be watched closely in future.

RIDERS OF NOTE
Nicky Tinkler

Rides with a lot of confidence in his races and looks a good judge of pace. Still young, but looks to have many of the attributes that could make him a very decent rider.

Matthew Mackley
Rarely comes away from the Market Rasen meetings without a winner and rides the course better than most. A tidy horseman and can ride a good finish when required.

Mark Walford
Although Mark didn’t ride a winner here, he caught the eye riding Golden Rivet in the maiden. Seems to have improved considerably over the past couple of seasons and is fast becoming one of the better young riders on the Yorkshire circuit. Is still improving and will benefit from more experience.

Lenny Hicks
Lenny could have easily have come away with a double here if On The Bone had stood up in the maiden. Gave Native Cove a great ride the previous weekend at Weston Park and is as good a rider as you will find around the Midlands area.
 

Joe Docker
Joe seems to come away with at least one winner from every meeting these days. Is getting more outside rides this season and at last is getting the chance to demonstrate why he’s one of the best riders around.

Andy Martin
Andy dumfounded the experts on more than one occasion last season, winning hunter chases on rank outsiders Romany Chat and Secret Truth, as well as just failing in a Cheltenham hunter chase onboard the maiden, Mustang Molly. If you've backed a horse which Andy's riding, then you know that it's going to get the maximum amount of assistance from its rider and even if things look bleak, don't give up just yet as Andy might still just get your selection home!