Racing: Andrew Thornton breaks barren Market Rasen record

Friday's race meeting at Market Rasen was the first in association with Bloodwise, the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Charity, with which the racecourse has teamed up in a new partnership.
Runners take a fence in the Susan Eastwood Chase PICTURE: Peter Thompson EMN-160606-123800002Runners take a fence in the Susan Eastwood Chase PICTURE: Peter Thompson EMN-160606-123800002
Runners take a fence in the Susan Eastwood Chase PICTURE: Peter Thompson EMN-160606-123800002

Ladies came in their finery to what was termed as Prelude Day ahead of the more long-standing Ladies Summer Plate day in July.

One of the day’s best wins saw 2016 Grand National winning trainer Oliver Sherwood and jockey Leighton Aspell teamed up with the seven-year-old Royalraise (3/1) in the Beginners Steeplechase.

Aspell always had his mount well placed and after four second-place finishes on the bounce, this was his day.

Runners come out onto the course for the Beginners Steeplechase. Left is the Winner Royalraise, with Leighton Aspell up PICTURE: Peter Thompson EMN-160606-123749002Runners come out onto the course for the Beginners Steeplechase. Left is the Winner Royalraise, with Leighton Aspell up PICTURE: Peter Thompson EMN-160606-123749002
Runners come out onto the course for the Beginners Steeplechase. Left is the Winner Royalraise, with Leighton Aspell up PICTURE: Peter Thompson EMN-160606-123749002

It certainly wasn’t a good day for champion jockey Richard Johnson who did not ride a winner and was unseated by his mount Explained.

Despite an awkward fall, Johnson thankfully got up unscathed.

Forever Field, with Nico de Boinville on board, was another favourite and took the feature race, the £10,000 Thompson and Richardson Insurance Brokers Class 4 Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year old hails from the yard of top trainer Nicky Henderson and after finishing second in a 14-strong field at Kempton a month ago was always fancied to score here despite going up 5lb in the weights.

Runners come out onto the course for the Beginners Steeplechase. Left is the Winner Royalraise, with Leighton Aspell up PICTURE: Peter Thompson EMN-160606-123749002Runners come out onto the course for the Beginners Steeplechase. Left is the Winner Royalraise, with Leighton Aspell up PICTURE: Peter Thompson EMN-160606-123749002
Runners come out onto the course for the Beginners Steeplechase. Left is the Winner Royalraise, with Leighton Aspell up PICTURE: Peter Thompson EMN-160606-123749002

His effort at Kempton indicated the 15/8 favourite could well up his game when tested further in distance and so it proved.

Gold Ingot (5/1), ridden by Andrew Thornton, claimed the two-mile three-furlong Bloodwise North Handicap Chase.

He had been on a decent run before a flop at Warwick last time out. A versatile sort in trip or ground, this was a decent effort.

The Caroline Bailey-trained nine-year-old made all the running in the seven-strong field.

It was the first time in 10 years and more than 80 rides that Thornton had ridden a winner at Market Rasen, but he now stands on 994 career winners.

Rejaah (5/4f), with David Noonan on board, was an appropriate winner in the novice hurdle as the only filly in the field on a day when ladies certainly dominated the enclosures.

Disappointingly none of Lincolnshire’s trainers saddled runners on the day.

The next meeting is the Port Community Raceday on Friday, June 17.

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