Summer Plate Market Rasen

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This is a brilliant Chase at 3.35 and those of you who are not into Chases - this is the one that should set your pulse racing --ten year trends

YEAR	WINNER	AGE	WGT	SP	TRAINER	JOCKEY	RPR
2009	Nostringsattached	8	11-5	7/2F	Jonjo O'Neill	A P McCoy	137
2008	Snoopy Loopy	10	11-2	16/1	P Bowen	Seamus Durack	156
2007	Iron Man	6	10-13	5/1	P Bowen	Paddy Merrigan	158
2006	Yes Sir	7	10-10	3/1F	P Bowen	A P McCoy	149
2005	Tango Royal	9	10-8	25/1	M C Pipe	Tom Malone	149
2004	Glinger	11	10-2	20/1	N G Richards	Brian Harding	128
2003	Ballycassidy	7	10-13	11/2J	P Bowen	Barry Geraghty	141
2002	Chicuelo	6	10-4	15/8F	M C Pipe	A P McCoy	149
2001	Dorans Gold	7	10-0	7/1	P F Nicholls	Timmy Murphy	124
2000	Foundry Lane	9	11-3	5/2F	Mrs M Reveley	Anthony Ross	151

Only 2 of the last ten year runners have been 6 year olds and three favs have delivered from the last 10 runnings

8 -10 winners came first or second in their last run and there was a big gamble for the win by Paul Nichols with Dorans gold in 2001 - was hardly out of the novice stage in terms of chases.

The older horses went off the biggest prices - all had the same form lines coming into the race and if they conform to the readyness stat should not be discounted on age alone.

Peter Bowen hardly ever comes into the race with les than 2 runners but the prob Fav Valley Ride is his only entry this year - 10 years old and its third last time was over a trip way too far at 3m4f - but was closing at the end of the race - has had one prep run over hdles and that last chase.

of the youngsters - keep an eye on Picaroon - each way today currently 26/1 betfair - is hardly out of the Novice stage but a relentless galloper who started odds on to win last time and won unchallenged has sparkling form and is better than this price tag has won c and ground (hdles) but never travelled this far over fences has won his races in a lower grade easily without effort and there is no doubt in my mind he will get the trip - fantastic each way chance at big odds of the previuos 6 yr old winners -

Iron Man had -- Chiceulo had not...run this far

Top weights have not fared well but last year King Troy each way today ran an absolute smashing race ( My notebook notes that day) -smashing race in the summer plate at market rasen won last year by the subsequent hennessy winner Snoopy Loopy looked brill just faded as the more fancied animals came through at only 7 this one must be in the analyser for the rest of the seson and next yr 180709 - racing post notes today ---Dual winner at the track, including once at this trip and is unbeaten in three completed chases since running a close fourth to Nostringsattached off a 12lb lower mark in the Summer Plate a year ago, with latest Stratford win signifying he´s still improving; carries weight well and his major chance is not ground dependent.

Good luck all

Post Race ---- well Picaroon fell way to early in a bunched field and King Troy could not carry the weight result ----As is always the case, this showpiece event was fiercely contested by a lot of seemingly in-form horses and the winning time smashed a course record that had stood for over 30 years - although it has to be noted that the fourth-last fence on their final circuit was omitted due to an injured jockey on the landing side. It saw the first and second from the previous year return but neitherNostringsattached or Keepitsecret could get into the frame this season. The former had his chance but got outpaced off the final bend, while the latter was held up and never got on terms.

Victory went to GRAND SLAM HERO, who was winning his third race in a row since rejoining Nigel Twiston-Davies - he is now unbeaten in five starts for that trainer. 4lb higher than last time, he was slightly hampered early by a faller but arrived on the scene going ominously well before finding enough once in front to win tidily. He is certainly in the right hands to keep the momentum going and he may head to the Galway Plate.

Putney Bridge has risen considerably through the weights for his progressive form and he ran a belter after being close up throughout. He is bound to get raised again for this, but has a fine attitude and should hold his own in good handicaps.

King Troy, fourth in this race last season off a 12lb lower mark, made a good comeback after a lengthy absence at Stratford recently, winning by almost two lengths once getting to the front. He moved well just in behind but looked anchored by his weight as the first two pressed on. This was a decent performance and he has plenty of time to keep improving.

NovicePicaroon only got to the fourth before unseating his rider.