Market Rasen Tips: Phillapa Sue can stay true

With five UK and Irish meetings taking place across Thursday there’s lots of racing action to cater for all tastes.

Amongst it will be the jumps card from Market Rasen, where they have seven races from 11:57-15:27 on ground forecast to be ‘Good to soft-soft in places’.

We’ve picked out a trio to follow at the Lincolnshire venue, including the mare Phillapa Sue as she sets about proving her stamina depths.

Market Rasen 13:05 – Phillapa Sue @ 13/2 

Stamina must be proven for PHILLAPA SUE in the Pertemps Network Mares’ Handicap Hurdle that is race two on the afternoon but it could be a chance worth taking.

The Scorpion mare was a hurdles winner 12 months ago when trained by Fergal O’Brien, scoring over 2m3½f on soft ground at Hereford. She tried a variety of trips afterwards and mostly held her form together without winning again.

In the summer months she left to join up with the David Killanena & Graeme McPherson stable and she was a decent fourth at Wincanton (2m5½f, soft) last month on her first start in 187 days.

She should be fitter for that and it’s recalled that in one start for this training operation earlier in her career, her hurdles debut in fact, she contested a three-mile Listed novice contest at Doncaster, where she unseated before playing her cards.

Connections clearly believe there is stamina within and she is only 1lb above her previous win-mark. This Betfred Extra Place Race (three places) offers some decent value at the price.

Market Rasen 13:40 – Jet Of Magic @ 9/2 

Odds-on favourite Le Milos was last spotted in the Grand National at Aintree and will find this a very different assignment on his return. He could prove nicely treated now 6lb lower over timber, but it is his first start over these smaller obstacles since February 2020 and it might be tougher than the odds suggest.

JET OF MAGIC is a solid alternative for in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies, whose recent strike-rate exceeds 32 per-cent after a double at Warwick on Wednesday. They both came in the hands of claimer Finn Lambert and it is James Turner in the plate taking off 7lb now.

Jet Of Magic won over this trip at Uttoxeter in July and was unfortunate to unseat back there next time.

He ran a sound race on his chasing bow at Worcester in September and had a luckless time at Cheltenham back over timber last month, suffering interference early on, which was no help to one that likes to be on the pace. He could give Le Milos plenty of food for thought.

Market Rasen 14:50 – Henschke @ 6/1 

The Warren Greatrex-trained HENSCHKE had an in-and-out time over fences last season. He won at Ffos Las (2m5f, soft) in January on his second attempt and would sign the campaign off with another score at Plumpton (3m1½f, good) in May.

In between times, things got patchy and his figures overall last season read 21PFP21.That final effort at Plumpton was his first time partnering with Jonjo O’Neill Jr and they clearly got on well.

He is on board again now for this seasonal comeback from only 3lb higher and this low-mileage nine-year-old may have more improvement to come as a staying chaser. He’s also gone well in the past after a layoff, so that shouldn’t be a worry today.