Market Rasen, Newbury & Ripon selections Saturday 18th July
On what is a relatively quiet day of flat racing in Britain, we have one of the feature jumps fixtures of the summer at Market Rasen and both feature contests look worthy of a further view. I also have selections from two of the best handicaps on the flat, though field sizes have taken a hit with the hot and dry weather continuing.
Market Rasen 2.10: High Fibre
Whilst it would be no surprise to see the potential handicap blot, Louis Veron win on handicap debut, he is at quite prohibitive odds considering his inexperience and I would prefer to look for the more worldly wise HIGH FIBRE, particularly as he may well be another to benefit for the switch to trainer James Owen.
Owen has made his name improving other people’s horses and his first run for the yard at York last week, albeit on the flat, looked full of promise as he stayed on for third over 12f, showing more resolution than perhaps had sometimes looked the case when with Harry Fry.
Nevertheless he had a productive spring on his favoured fast ground, winning on the sharp, right-handed track at Kempton, a course not too dissimilar to here. He also ran well at Ludlow before failing to stay 2m4f at Plumpton and then running below par at Warwick. This strong traveller could be revitalised by the switch in yards and could therefore be well handicapped with a first time visor applied today.
Newbury 2.25: Duraji
Having come close to stealing the Chester Cup when trying to make all from a wide draw, it is somewhat surprising to see DURAJI such a big price as the complete outsider of this small field.
He will find things easier to dominate from the front, especially on a track that often rewards early pace. He is going under the radar because he was so well beaten at Royal Ascot, but he had to use up plenty of petrol to get to the front from another wide draw given the short run to the first bend. I am therefore happy to overlook that.
He bounced off the fast ground at Chester, looking the likeliest winner turning for home before the early exertions took their toll. At such big odds he looks worth an each-way wager.
Market Rasen 2.45: Soul Icon & King Roly
A horse who has been running in some top handicaps over the years, SOUL ICON looks well placed to take advantage of a marginal drop in grade here.
He raced only four times last season, not really convincing that he stayed 3m on his first three starts, before jumping poorly over the National fences at Aintree. However there is no distance issue over this 2m5f and of course he is now starting to inch down the handicap. He was beaten just a neck in this race in 2024 from just 4lbs lower and then went on to win a Grade 2 handicap at Kempton the following Christmas ahead of the evergreen Edwardstone.
At bigger odds KING ROLY looks a decent alternative. He was a progressive young chaser in 2025, winning three times, including twice at Perth where he seemed very at home on that sharp right-handed track.
He was pretty disappointing in his first two starts this spring, but hold up tactics did not seem to suit and he did better around here last time when ridden more prominently. He has dropped in the ratings to 120, the same mark as his last win in September.
Ripon 3.15: Elsass
Although he was a disappointment fur us in this column at Newmarket two weeks ago, ELSASS might prefer the slightly calmer waters of this handicap at Ripon this afternoon.
Gelded over the winter, he showed the benefits of that op with wins at Southwell in April and then an authoritative success at Hamilton the following month, confirming his ability to handle flat ground turf. I then fancied him for the rerouted Old Newton Cup at Newmarket, but forced wide throughout he dropped away pretty quickly in the closing stages.
He has a smaller field to deal with here, and his prominent racing style is usually a benefit around Ripon. This 4yo remains thoroughly unexposed and this sharp 12f should suit. Whilst he was well beaten on his only previous run here last season, that can safely be put down to soft ground, not the track.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – High Fibre – 2.10 Market Rasen –7/2 Unibet (1/4 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Duraji – 2.25 Newbury – 22/1 William Hill, Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Soul Icon – 2.45 Market Rasen – 11/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
0.5pts each-way – King Roly – 2.45 Market Rasen – 15/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Elsass – 3.15 Ripon – 9/2 William Hill (¼ odds 1st 3)
