Nine runners will be squaring up at 15:20 handicap chase from Market Rasen on Thursday. This is a 2m 5f scrap at Class 4. There is a clear front runner for the action as well, with Zen Master having held steady at the head of the market.
That is despite some indifferent form from him, but given that the overall view of this handicap chase is that it isn’t particularly high quality, can he deliver the win for trainer Charlie Mann?
Looking through the card it is a race which seems to be nothing more than a chance for someone to lift themselves out of the doldrums. Read our Market Rasen preview for more details.
Market Rasen 15:20 Race Odds*
Zen Master 11/4
Out For Justice 10/3
Perpignan 11/2
Cushen Bridge 13/2
Balgemmois 7/1
Two Hoots 9/1
Bentons Lad 12/1
Solid Strike 16/1
Sunny Ledgend 18/1
* (betting odds taken from Paddy Power on January 15th, 2020 at 5:14 pm)
Horse Racing Betting at Paddy power
Table of Contents
Can Zen Master produce the victory at Market Rasen?
The form of Charlie Mann’s charge had not exactly been anything to write home about. But then he did manage to shake off some indifferent output with a very good second place at Fakenham in a Class 4 contest in mid-December.
He was beaten out by Agent Westy by almost five lengths in that contest. But it did see something of imporved form by Zen Master. Not since October 2017 has he taken a win though, but that victory was at Market Rasen. At 11/4 favouritism, punters may still have question marks with a fall and having pulled up last year* (betting odds taken from Paddy power on January 15th, 2020 at 5:14 pm).
Will Out For Justice produce a challenge?
Irish runner Out For Justice, trained by Katy Price is the second favourite for the fixture at 10/3* (betting odds taken from Paddy power on January 15th, 2020 at 5:14 pm). He has claimed victory in two chases between 2m 6f and 3 m.
His last outing didn’t see him cover himself in glory as he pulled up in a 3m 1f chase at Catterick. But he is well rated and had placed twice and won once in his four previous races before that Catterick mishap. He also claimed a couple of victories this season.
C&D Winner Cusheen Bridge may have claims
There really isn’t a horse in the field that can boast the most terrific of form. Back to back fourth place finishes is where Cusheen Bridge is at. The 12-year-old isn’t a bad fit for the distance at all, but he hasn’t claimed a win for around three years. His last outing was at Market Rasen in December when he was second last in a field of five.
The search for form clouds the field
Two Hoots was a beaten favourite last time out after pulling up, and that is just a familiar story for a lot of this field. Two Hoots incidentally has won two chases at 2m and 2m 3f in his career.
Perpignan and Sunny Legend are more whose form won’t inspire punters. The former pulled up at in chase at Hereford in November last year. Sunny Ledgend is a course and distance winner, but the 15 year pulled up in his last race which was in May 2018.
Other runners
Bentons Lad doesn’t appear to be a bad option to consider for a place as he did secure fourth in a hurdle at Fakenham in December. He won earlier in the season as well at Huntington. Solid Strike, guess what, pulled up in his last run and despite a bit of promise has looked as if he has started to go backward. Balgemmois claimed a fight in a Hereford chase trip over 2m in December after having fallen in his previous run.
Predictions
The struggle for form is real in this one. It’s such a strange race because there is such bad form around from most of the entrants. The way to think about that therefore is, to look to the head of the market.
That is where Zen Master is and considering that he hasn’t been brilliant, his second place at Fakenham still makes him look the pick of the bunch at an unappealing 11/4 quote * (betting odds taken from Paddy power on January 15th, 2020 at 5:14 pm)..
The other one who may be able to come up with something is Out For Justice who is coming back down to a more preferable distance and will likely handle the soft ground well.
