Fast ground will suit our Market Rasen duo on Saturday

August 15

No runners for Barbury at this weekend’s two-day meeting down the road at Newbury, but Alan is in line for a busy early evening tomorrow as our thoughts revert to jumping  with two runners heading for Market Rasen.

Nap Hand, who carries the colours of the stable’s sponsors, Goodwin Racing, has been mixing it between Flat and Jumps since last Christmas, having made a very pleasing debut over timber when finishing third at Kempton on Boxing Day.

He has been running well on the level during the summer but switched back to the winter game to gain his first success over hurdles at Stratford in July.

Doubtless, Nap Hand will be at short odds to defy a penalty at ‘The Rasen’, and Tom Bellamy, who rides, will be hoping to make it a double for the stable when he partners topweight Ernest Gray in the two mile and seven handicap hurdle.

A pre-Christmas wind operation definitely seemed to help Ernest Gray, who. maybe further assisted by first time cheekpieces, returned after a five month winter to win his second hurdle race at Worcester. He is in his element on this fast ground so, with similar underfoot conditions virtually guaranteed, the hat-trick is a distinct possibility.