Market Rasen Racing; Champion jockey Richard Johnson bags double

A live set from pop star Jess Glynne was the big attraction at the annual Rasen Rocks meet, but Johnson claimed the racing spotlight by winning the second and fifth races.

He scored first on Birch Hill (11/8) in the Alicia Kitteridge Birthday Novices Hurdle. The eight-year-old won here two weeks earlier, and although the quality of that race and this success did not really impress, the successful pointer could have more wins to come under rules.

Johnson then rode Beat the Tide (9/2) in the final race, a novices hurdle, for South Wales trainer Tim Vaughan, as faster ground suited and worked in the six-year-old’s favour.

The night’s most impressive win came from Hammersly Lake (11/10) in the Jane Clugston Novices Chase, the only favourite to win.

The eight-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson, had Nico de Boinville on board for his only ride of the night, and produced an impressive display of jumping, barely touching a twig, as he romped home by 12 lengths.

Market Rasen trainer Michael Chapman saddled The Society Man who has been placed over fences several times.

He jumped well enough under Nathan Moscrop, but always at the back of the field.

Chapman saddled the more-fancied Dark Diamond, an impressive winner last month, in the fifth race, a Class 4 handicap hurdle.

This time Ross Turner, who claims 7lb, was on board, but the nine-year-old could not repeat his previous effort.

Nettleton handler Olly Williams saddled Monbeg Farmer in the second race, a novices hurdle, with top jockey Aidan Coleman on board.

The five-year-old finished down the field in Birch Hill’s race, but Williams can take some satisfaction that stable star Tricky Dicky had his second win on the flat recently. He teamed up at Catterick with Market Rasen jockey Duran Fentiman.

The music night is very much a draw to the course now in August and the size of the crowd and the packed enclosures again justified the Jockey Club Racecourses’ initiative, even if the racing was relatively low key.