Bowen arrows target Plate bullseye

PETER Bowen bids to land the totesport.com Summer Plate for the fourth year running at Market Rasen today.

Victories for Yes Sir (2006), Iron Man (2007) and Snoopy Loopy (2008) make the Haverfordwest handler the trainer to follow in this valuable handicap chase.He reports his four-strong team, comprising of Always Waining, Iron Man, No Panic and Histoire De Moeurs, to be in fine form, but warns the latter might not run if there is a lot of rain at the Lincolnshire track.

“It’s been a very lucky race for us,” said Bowen. “They are all in good form but the mare (Histoire De Moeurs) won’t run if they have a lot of rain.

“Iron Man is back in good form now. He’s a lot lower in the ratings than when he won it two years ago.

“He ran quite well at Perth the last day. If he hadn’t have fallen he would have been third or fourth.

“It’s the first time for No Panic in a handicap after being in novice company. We will have to see how he goes.

“Always Waining is in good form and is back down to the same mark when he won the big handicap there last September.

“The more rain the better for Iron Man but the other three would want good ground.”

Always Waining and Keith Goldsworthy’s Hold Em are the joint-top weights following the 24-hour final declaration stage.

Goldsworthy always thought his charge would be better suited by good ground, but recent results have proved that is not the case.

“He’s joint-top weight and he’s earned that by running against the top novices last season,” said the South Pembrokeshire trainer.

“He has been a little bit out of sorts. We always thought in the winter he would improve for better ground but all his best form is with cut in the ground.

“He wasn’t beaten a million miles in soft ground at Newbury behind Gone To Lunch and Tartak and he wasn’t beaten that far in the Feltham.

“He ran a good race in the Racing Post Chase and he probably prefers these competitive races where they go a good gallop early, it’s just that he doesn’t have the extra gear and the soft ground slows down the speed merchants.”

Nicky Richards does not want bottomless ground for Native Coral, for whom Irish ace Barry Geraghty has been booked.

“As long as it doesn’t go heavy I wouldn’t be too worried, if it’s good to soft or soft he’ll have no problem with that,” said the Greystoke trainer.

“He ran well in the Great Yorkshire Chase behind Big Fella Thanks and it was soft enough that day.

“He’s a really good, solid, handicapper and he’s in great form so hopefully he’ll run a good race.

“It’s a great prize for this time of year and my old lad is proven at this level, whereas a few of the others aren’t.

“I think he’s got a great each-way chance.”

Summer Plate: Cashmans bet - 6 Iron Man, 7 Nelsons Spice, Nostringsattached, 9 Histoire De Moeurs, 10 Keepitsecret, King Troy, Native Coral, No Panic, 14 Tell Henry, Prestbury Knight