Market Rasen Tips: Autumn to win on Tuesday’s Return to Lincolnshire

Market Rasen stages a six-race National Hunt card on Tuesday which is highlighted by a good Class 3 novices' handicap and a few solid Class 4 contests.

The staff at the course have taken all necessary precautions to try to beat the cold weather and, as of now, racing is set to go ahead at the Lincolnshire venue so we have a trio of selections for you across the card.

13:10 - Autumn Return @ 6/4

Punters can get Tuesday off to a winning start by backing Autumn Return to score in the opening mares handicap hurdles over 2m1/2f.

The Ruth Jefferson-trained mare caught the eye when scoring over two-and-a-half-miles at Musselburgh last time out and there should be further progress from the seven-year-old.

A former point-to-point winner, she has won four of her nine rules starts, including over course and distance, and she is a lightly raced and progressive mare.

Today’s race doesn’t look any stronger than the one Autumn Return won in Scotland last time out and Jefferson has shrewdly kept the mare in 0-120 company, suggesting she is set to pick up another victory on her return to Market Rasen.

14:10 - First Lord De Cuet @ 11/2

First Lord De Cuet was disappointing when pulled up a Bangor last month, but David Pipe’s charge is a well-handicapped gelding and it could be worth taking a chance on the ten-year-old bouncing back in the three-mile novices handicap chase at 14.10.

He finished five lengths behind the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Monbeg Genius - who went on to finish third in Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup - at Chepstow a year ago and that came off a mark of 132.

The ten-year-old has plummeted down to today’s rating of 122 and the French-bred runner looks worth another chance. The Bangor performance has to be forgiven, but the Pipe charge was running a good race in a valuable Cheltenham handicap in November before falling four out and that effort suggests that all hope is not lost.

14:40 - William Cody @ 2/1

William Cody is building somewhat of a reputation for finishing second, but that is a little unfair on the consistent seven-year-old.

Pam Sly’s charge has won twice, finished second on six occasions and filled the third-place position in his ten career starts over fences and the son of Westerner will relish today’s soft conditions.

The seven-year-old looked all over the winner when moving clear of the field at Fakenham last time out, but jockey Gina Andrews got there far too soon on William Cody and with a better ride he may have seen his race out.

Paul O’Brien takes over today and Sly could be heading for the winners’ enclosure after the handicap chase at 14:40.