I usually take an interest in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen but before looking at this year's renewal, I have good news and bad news to impart.
Back in early January I received a phone call from a gentlemen's outfitters in Warwick informing me the clobber I'd ordered for my daughter's wedding was available for collection.
Now, I was just about to set off to collect the clobber in question when my wife, as is her wont, presented me with a list of sundry errands that, coincidentally, needed to be run in Warwick; having completed no more than half of them as best I could, I thought a small treat was in order so I ordered a small americano (cold milk / regular blend / stay in / contactless) in a coffee house situated a stone's throw away from the clobber shop.
I'd barely taken my seat when a frail old lady struggled onto the premises and a kindly gent sat at an adjacent table, offering her his seat, approached and asked if he could join me at my table. No problem at all.
We quickly struck up a conversation and I quickly deduced this gent followed Flat form rather closely.
His son, the landlord of a public house in nearby Kenilworth, was part of a syndicate that owned a share in a horse called Lazy Griff. The beast had respectable two-year-old form and syndicate members were spending the winter months dreaming their horse might just be good enough to contest a Derby - either at Epsom or The Curragh. At that time Lazy Griff was quoted 100/1 for Epsom and 66/1 for the Irish Derby.
Four months later Lazy Griff made his seasonal debut, running a very respectable second to Lambourn in the Chester Vase, sent off a 25/1 shot.
After that race handler Charlie Johnston told reporters his charge had recently met with a setback and was only 80% ready - improvement was to be expected, Epsom was the target, and any rain in the week leading up to the race would help his cause.
Propitiously, there was plenty of rain around in Derby week this year, and, on top of that, connections had managed to secure the services of Christophe Soumillon. Stall three looked a bit of negative but Betfred were offering 100/1 (four places) about Lazy Griff. I placed a small each-way wager with Betfred on Thursday evening and on Friday another at SP with Sky who were paying five places; Lazy Griff eventually went off a 50/1 shot.
The good news, of course, is that Lazy Griff ran a bit of a stormer.
He raced in fourth for much of the trip; as they came round Tattenham Corner, I could barely believe my eyes - Soumillon was looking behind for dangers that weren't there, while it transpired the real danger was long-time leader Lambourn. Jock Soumillon pressed the button and set about reeling in the leader and, just for a fraction of a second, I thought he might get close. In the event he didn't, but he still finished second, three and threequarters lengths behind Lambourn.
The bad news is that, given my egregious tipping performance in this particular race over a period of some fifty years, I didn't have the prescience to share the tip with you, dear reader.
That's racing, as they say.
Fifteen have been declared for tomorrow's Summer Plate (3.12); the going at the Lincolnshire track is currently described as good but thundery showers are forecast and the track reports conditions are likely to ease during racing.
Top weight Hang In There takes his chance and concedes ten pounds to nearest rival Horantzau d'Airy; as a result Mr Saxobeat, Doyouknowwhatimean, Ceanndana and the mare Shakeyatailfeather all compete from out of the handicap.
Last year Sure Touch (137) touched off Soul Icon to collect the spoils, with Statuario (135) third, beaten five lengths; Riskintheground (127) fifth, beaten ten and threequarters lengths; and Vintage Fizz (130) sixth, beaten sixteen and a quarter lengths.
Sure Touch, for much of the week favourite to repeat the trick tomorrow off a mark one pound lower than last year (136), has been easy to back today, while there has been money for Irish raiders Ballysax Hank and Ceanndana.
Olly Murphy's charge hasn't won in six starts since last year's win - and some might say he hasn't shown much noteworthy form either.
He jumped poorly behind Docpickedme in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster in January and last time came home just under 20 lengths behind Riskintheground (Vintage Fizz third) in a handicap chase at Ayr.
No doubt Olly Murphy will have freshened him up for this and cheekpieces are fitted for the first time but his price is short enough.
Harry Cobden bids for a hat-trick in the race having ridden Born Famous to win in 2023 and Sure Touch last year. This year he's aboard the Gavin Cromwell trained Ballysax Hank; the booking looks significant and it has caught the attention of bookmakers and punters alike.
With just three chase starts to his name (U15), six-year-old Ballysax Hank makes his handicap debut and is the runner with the least experience of larger obstacles in this field. Five six-year-olds have previously come home in front: Stately Home (1997); Chicuelo (2002); Iron Man (2007); Really Super (2020); and Born Famous (2023).
Ceanndana carries five pounds more than his long handicap weight but has been well supported today, with Jordan Gainford travelling over for this sole ride. Ross O'Sullivan's charge ran well behind Arctic Fly over a shorter trip at Tipperary 18 days ago (nearest finish) but wouldn't appreciate too much rain.
The Bowen yard always targets this race - and has won it on eight previous occasions: Stately Home (1997); Ballycassidy (2003); Yes Sir (2006); Iron Man (2007); Snoopy Loopy (2008); More Buck's (2018); and Francky Du Berlais (2021 & 2022).
In the betting course and distance winner Courtland is preferred to Statuario.
Courtland finished third behind Charlie Uberalles at Cartmel three weeks ago - that was his first outing since April 2024. Having previously won off 142, he looks feasibly handicapped on 133 - and Shane Fenelon can claim five pounds - but there's the danger he could 'bounce' on his second run after such a long layoff.
Stablemate Statuario beat Hang In There in the Perth Gold Cup six weeks ago and has been raised two pounds to a mark of 130 - still five pounds lower than last year when beaten five lengths. All five chase wins to date have come at Perth.
In the past fortnight the yard has sent out five winners from 11 runners (45%). Both declarations in tomorrow's renewal are ten years of age; in the last 25 years only three winners have been older than nine - Glinger (11; 2004); Snoopy Loopy (10; 2008) and I Have Dreamed (10; 2012).
After beating Vintage Fizz and Sure Touch at Ayr in April, Riskintheground beat Bhaloo and Hang In There at Cheltenham five days later; on 139 he's now 12 pounds higher than when fifth in last year's renewal - and the Skelton yard has been relatively quiet of late.
Bhaloo looked out of sorts when sent off 2/1 favourite for the Clarke Chase at Uttoxeter eight weeks ago, trailing in sixth behind Matterhorn (Horantzau d'Airy second at 50/1, Vintage Fizz fourth).
Bhaloo sports first time cheekpieces tomorrow while Horantzau d'Airy has his first run for trainer Sara Bradstock, having previously been trained by W.P. Mullins for Mrs S. Ricci - 2024 form included placed efforts behind Ashdale Bob, Flooring Porter and Real Steel in the Munster National at Limerick - and, more recently, by Newmarket handler Michael Keady.
The Flier Begley has also gone up 12 pounds in the handicap after winning the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Series Final at Haydock in April and then the Associated British Ports Summer Plate Trial over course and distance four weeks ago.
For much of that trial race Vintage Fizz, who can lug left at the fences on occasions, looked the likely winner but after taking up the running two out, he was run out of it after the last, eventually beaten a neck - to my mind The Flier Begley just wanted it that little bit more.
Three of Charlie Uberalles' six chase wins have come at Cartmel - after his latest win at the Cumbrian track three weeks ago handler Dianne Sayer said:
"I reckon he is a stone better here than anywhere else. He had his own way in front which he enjoys."
His defeat of Docpickedme at Doncaster in December reads well and the trip will suit but he goes off a career high mark of 137 tomorrow.
Although Doyouknowwhatimean races from out of the handicap, Harry Atkins' seven pounds claim more than offsets the penalty. Last time Dan Skelton's charge was outpaced from four out behind former stablemate Third Time Lucki at Uttoxeter over two miles; all his wins to date have come around the two mile mark.
A competitive renewal, as always.
Horantzau d'Airy looks intriguing on his first start for Sara Bradstock but at a slightly bigger price I'm going to take an each-way interest in flying veteran The Flier Begley who has been in good form recently and shouldn't be inconvenienced by any rain.
The Flier Begley is the each-way suggestion, at the time of writing 14/1 with bet365, Betfred and Paddy Power, all of whom pay four places.
