Jonjo O’Neill’s Lost Legend tipped to go one better at Market Rasen
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Sprints, middle distance contests, Classics and a spot of summer jumping, this weekend seems to have it all.
The Irish Oaks at the Curragh may be the biggest race of the day, but with eight contests live on Channel 4, they are the ones that we are interested in with plenty of free bets up for grabs.
We picked out three of those races to discuss in our latest podcast with two from Newbury, including the Weatherbys Super Sprint and Market Rasen’s Summer Plate making the cut.
But while we’ve put up our tips for those races, this particular writer’s three best bets come elsewhere, with this trio looking top value.
On first look the ‘75’ next to Algaith’s form this season might not look great but a deeper look is needed.
He was last of the lot in the Fielden Stakes first time out, but with subsequent Derby and Eclipse winner Golden Horn 13l in front, it doesn’t look quite so bad.
Throw in that Barry Hills’ colt was just 1½l behind Mustadeem who went on to finish third in the Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes a further boost is handed.
Our selection improved on that run when beaten less than 3l by Lightning Spear at Salisbury.
A couple of winners have come out of that race and the winner found only Arod too good in the Summer Mile at Ascot next time out.
Off the same mark as that run, and improving with every appearance, now is his time to break him turf maiden tag.
Just over ½l ahead of Algaith in that Salisbury contest was Rekdhat, who can also strike this weekend.
Roger Varian’s filly has run since, beaten 6l in a Listed contest at Pontefract, although with three horses rated higher than the 91 she competed off in behind, it was a respectable effort.
Baring in mind that Lightning Spear, who was just 2l in front, has gone up 16lbs since their encounter in Wiltshire and Rekdhat looks in good shape to defy top-weight off the same mark.
And with Roger Varian in solid form at the moment with a 38 per cent strike rate in the last seven days, it’s worth siding with the daughter of Shamardal.
We’re going to take an each-way chance on Jonjo O’Neill’s charge handing the Jackdaws Castle trainer a third win in this race in the last 10 years.
Having been tried over further on his last two outings, it is somewhat of a relief to see the gelding dropped back in trip.
While he wasn’t disgraced when fifth in the Skybet Chase or sixth at Cheltenham over 3m1f, he is clearly better at this sort of trip.
In his last five races over 2m4f-2m5f outside of Graded company Lost Legend’s record reads a very impressive 11221.
He is 7lbs higher in the handicap than when second in this race last year, but on 4lb better terms than 1¾l winner It’s A Gimme can reverse the placings at around double the price.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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