Market Rasen Tips: Back Start to end In Front on Thursday

There’s a cracking seven-race card - which gets underway at 11:55am - over the sticks at Market Rasen on Thursday.

The meeting is highlighted by a competitive handicap hurdle at 13:40 and there looks to be a trio of tasty wagers at the Lincolnshire venue.

11:55 - Start In Front @ 7/2

Lady Gwen will be a popular choice in the opening race on the card - a 2m conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle - after her course-and-distance success 14 days ago, but she didn’t jump great on that occasion, needed every bit of the minimum trip to get up and Kim Bailey’s runner can be opposed with Start In Front.

Start In Front earned a mark of 120 when an impressive winner of a juvenile hurdle at Wetherby in 2022. Rebecca Menzies’ runner has failed to win since that seven-length victory, but he was a good second off 111 at Sedgefield earlier this year and the four-year-old is down to 108 today.

Start In Front was well-beaten at Wetherby last time out, but that came in a far stronger race and the winner, Richmond Lake, looks a progressive horse. This looks a more winnable opportunity for Menzies’ runner, who could easily have more to offer.

14:15 - O'Connell @ 4/1

Roger Rarebit impressed at Uttoxeter last time out, but Tom Lacey’s runner carries a 7lb penalty for that six-length success and he looks another favourite who can be opposed.

O'Connell ran a cracker to finish second at this track last time out and Sue Smith’s runner looks to hold a big chance. The lightly raced seven-year-old looked to have plenty of improvement to come when running a big race at Market Rasen 21 days ago and the more stamina sapping the ground the better for the son of Westerner.

O'Connell finished second to the progressive Picks Lad last time out and that performance was produced in a higher grade than today’s contest. Smith’s runner looks a great bet in the staying handicap chase at 14:15.

14:50 - Supasunrise @ 10/3

Supasunrise got his head in front at Warwick 29 days ago and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ runner can score again in the 2m3f handicap chase at 14:50.

There was a feeling that Supasunrise was a better horse on good ground, but he put that theory to bed when battling to score in soft conditions at Warwick.

There should be more to come from the seven-year-old, who has had only eight chase starts and Finn Lambert once again takes off a handy 5lb.