Friday, September 27, 2013

Market Rasen on a Saturday in September

Derek 'Tommo' Thompson wouldn't necessarily be everybody's cup of tea but, in case you hadn't heard, he has an autobiography out at the moment entitled Too Busy To Die.

As David Ord's review highlights, somewhat bizarrely the great man's stock appears to have risen now we don't see him on the small screen... I met the guy briefly just the once five years ago when he opened a new Betfred shop in Coventry; love him or loathe him, he's not easy to ignore.

The highlight on tomorrow's card at Market Rasen is the listed handicap chase at 2.50.

Top weight The Disengager took last year's renewal off a mark of 134; twelve months on he tries to repeat the trick off 152. Philip Hobbs' charge did the blog a favour when obliging at odds of 10/1 at Newton Abbot four weeks ago, beating stablemate Rob Conti who reopposes from two pounds out of the handicap; after that victory Hobbs immediately nominated this race as the next target. There are dangers aplenty (including Harry Fry's Bold Chief ) in a very competitive field but I'm not going to desert The Disengager.

Those looking for something a little less obvious may want to consider Peter Bowen's Al Co in the same race. This one was beaten just a short head in the 2012 running of the Summer Plate over course and distance. The yard hasn't had a winner since September 1st but he'd have an each-way squeak if fit enough to do himself justice after an absence of 134 days.

In the preceding listed hurdle at 2.15 Solaras Exhibition appears to have his fair share of weight. Having said that, Alan Johns claims ten and Tim Vaughan's charge won nicely enough at Stratford in July and he's since had a refresher on the Flat at Ffos Las a fortnight ago. Connections considered their charge a 'lively outsider' for the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March - on the back of that I may take a small each-way interest if the tissue price of 16/1 is available on the day.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

A brave effort from top weight The Disengager (10/1) but he was outpaced from four out, staying on dourly to take a creditable fourth.

The spoils went to Emma Lavelle's Bouggler (22/1) who beat Rob Conti (25/1) with Kian's Delight (12/1) third. Al Co (11/1) made several places after jumping the last to finish fifth, offering some encouragement for next time perhaps...

Solaras Exhibition (20/1) on the other hand offered no encouragement for another day, losing his place badly half a mile from home. He trailed home tenth of the eleven runners, looking badly out of place in this in sort of company.