Market Rasen races: Jockey handed ban as favourite well beaten

Sunday's card at Market Rasen was always going to have a low-key feel in contrast to the Cheltenham Festival and so it proved with a thin crowd and some small fields.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Mar 2016, 10:01 BST
Updated 14th Mar 2016, 10:04 BST
Bucking the Trend, winner of the 32Redsport.com Handicap Chase, ridden by Alan Johns EMN-160314-095704002Bucking the Trend, winner of the 32Redsport.com Handicap Chase, ridden by Alan Johns EMN-160314-095704002
Bucking the Trend, winner of the 32Redsport.com Handicap Chase, ridden by Alan Johns EMN-160314-095704002

Only four went to post for the 32Red.Com Novices Hurdle in what turned out to be a rather farcical race.

From the moment the starter’s flag dropped, top jockey Paddy Brennan sent Three of a Kind to the front, leaving the other three runners standing, including odds-on favourite Maxie T (2/7).

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From then on it was an impressive display of front running by the seven-year-old as he built a 35-length lead when they entered the finishing straight.

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The Society Man, trained by Market Rasen's Michael Chapman, in the parade ring with jockey Graham Carson. EMN-160314-095715002The Society Man, trained by Market Rasen's Michael Chapman, in the parade ring with jockey Graham Carson. EMN-160314-095715002
The Society Man, trained by Market Rasen's Michael Chapman, in the parade ring with jockey Graham Carson. EMN-160314-095715002

At 6/1 in a four-horse race he represented good value to punters as he came home by 14 lengths from Maxie T in easing up.

After the race the stewards took a look and decided to hand Finian O’Toole, jockey of favourite Maxie T, a 10-day ban ‘for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing.’

* In the first chase of the afternoon, Bucking the Trend (13/8JF) gave an impressive display of jumping.

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Trained by Tim Vaughan in South Wales, and ridden by 5lb-claiming Alan Johns, the eight-year-old barely touched a twig on the way round.

The Society Man, trained by Market Rasen's Michael Chapman, in the parade ring with jockey Graham Carson. EMN-160314-095715002The Society Man, trained by Market Rasen's Michael Chapman, in the parade ring with jockey Graham Carson. EMN-160314-095715002
The Society Man, trained by Market Rasen's Michael Chapman, in the parade ring with jockey Graham Carson. EMN-160314-095715002

The only challenge came from fellow joint-favourite Ultimatum Du Roy. Market Rasen trainer Michael Chapman saddled The Society Man who tailed off by the second lap, but still finished fourth.

* In the mares handicap hurdle there was a promising career start for the well-backed Young You who gave jockey Cathal Courtney his first win on only his fourth ride.

* Star Foot (15/8), under jockey Tom O’Brien, won the opening novices hurdle for trainer Jo Davis and the five-year-old had little difficulty in seeing off a poor field. The horse had some decent form over hurdles and in bumpers in 2015 behind him, and three fancied Cheltenham runners this week had run in his company.

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* In the class 3 Handicap Hurdle, Scamblesby trainer Steve Gollings saddled Caged Lightning (9/2) and he ran well to have every chance at the last. He jumped upsides with the winner San Telm (5/2), before weakening on the run-in.

* The next meeting at Market Rasen is on Easter Monday. March 28.