UK Horse Racing Tips: Market Rasen

DUNDRUM WOOD cruised into contention nicely on his hurdles debut here last month, but the lack of a run told in the final stages, with the five-year-old having to settle for a silver medal. Olly Murphy's well-regarded point-to-point winner, who cost 270,000 pounds at the sales, has undergone wind surgery since and could appreciate the slight step up in trip he faces here in a contest his handler won 12 months ago. Guy was pitched into a hot Cheltenham contest for his hurdles bow and rates as the main danger, with Charlie Mann's Robaddan hard to rule out.
Prediction : 1st Dundrum Wood 2nd Guy 3rd Robaddan

This could go the way of ELLE EST GRANDE, who has finished second on both of her hurdle appearances so far and the step into handicap company may bring about a first success. Lexi is another interesting handicap debutant, with the four-year-old tried in a visor on her first outing since wind surgery. Versifier isn't a certain stayer but has plenty of experience to call upon, with Seapoint's third here on her penultimate start making her hard to dismiss.
Prediction : 1st Elle Est Grande 2nd Lexi 3rd Seapoint

READY AND ABLE was progressing through the handicap ranks at a rate of knots last year and, having made a pleasing return to the scoresheet when successful over fences in the summer, he is interesting returning to timber off a workable mark. Like The Sound and Senor Lombardy are others to take seriously reverting to hurdles following a spell over fences, while Teescomponents Lad should be much more competitive than when sighted in Wetherby's Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle most recently.
Prediction : 1st Ready And Able 2nd Senor Lombardy 3rd Teescomponents Lad

ROCCO, third in a Grade 2 over hurdles at Cheltenham last December, beat some useful operators when opening his chase account at Stratford last time and could have plenty more to come off a 6lb higher mark. River Frost romped to a comfortable success at Ayr last week and is dangerous under a 7lb penalty, while New Quay was third to Greatwood Hurdle winner Harambe over hurdles here in the spring and is interesting for the in-form Skelton team on his chasing debut.
Prediction : 1st Rocco 2nd River Frost 3rd New Quay

HOUNDSCOURT is two from two over this course and distance and, with the benefit of a run under his belt this season, the pick of Joanne Foster's pair looks set for another big effort off the same mark as when successful here in January. The return to three miles should suit Urbanist, who reappears following 298 days off the track, while Pc Dixon wasn't out of contention when falling two-out at Sedgefield last week and looks the best of Victor Thompson's duo.
Prediction : 1st Houndscourt 2nd Urbanist 3rd Pc Dixon

CHRISTMAS IN USA represents an in-form yard and could prove tough to peg back given that he is 7lb ahead of the assessor following his Sedgefield success seven days ago. The seven-year-old is at his best on soft ground, and can take this before his new mark kicks in. Miss Amelia likes it here and wasn't beaten far when third at Southwell last time, while Head Lad needs a market check after a wind operation ahead of this stable bow for Dan Skelton.
Prediction : 1st Christmas In Usa 2nd Miss Amelia 3rd Head Lad

KAP AUTEUIL is a brother to Cheltenham Festival winner A Plus Tard and clearly has more to offer in this sphere now trained by Nicky Henderson's former assistant, Toby Lawes. The four-year-old travelled stylishly on his only other start at Huntingdon, finishing second, and that experience won't have been lost on him. Dan Skelton has a good record here and He's A Legend warrants respect as a result, while Jetaway Joey is related to a few bumper winners and should have the pace for this.
Prediction : 1st Kap Auteuil 2nd Hes A Legend 3rd Jetaway Joey