Market Rasen - April 3

Forecast overnight rain failed to materialise resulting a few scratchings that weakened an otherwise interesting little card, with the ground once again riding good.

The opener was a seller in all but name and held little interest either on the day or in future, eventual winner Haasab has always looked better than his mark and came good under an uncomplicated ride for trainer Laura Morgan, who has had a quiet couple of months.

The second was an interesting three-way go for a novice hurdle in which Harambe, whose run I crapped on about here but had since got back on track with a smooth win at Kempton.

I decent looking horse with more size and scope than I had expected, A King's inmate was in good order and appeared to have plenty in his favour with chief rival Garrettstown likely to have to set the pace.

As mentioned here previously, Garrettstown is very much a chaser in waiting and he looked a bit leaner here this time on the back of a blowout in the EBF final; it's all been a bit too much too soon for him and he finished very tamely as Harambe scooted clear after the last.

There was some support for New Quay but he doesn't appeal much physically and had loads to prove after a dismal latest effort, and he soon retreated after looking a threat on the home turn.

A -110 chase came up next featuring a few unpredicatable types, the only guarantee was that Dallas Cowboy would again let down his remarkably faithful supporters who plowed in once more, only to see their flawed hero find little when let down.

The form is what it is, Global Domination and Troubled Soul not much better than their marks, the latter jumping better this time despite lacking a little in size.

The interesting one was King Vince, who travelled much more kindly followed wind surgery and was still in there when meeting the third last all wrong. He looks well handicapped if putting it all together and has plenty of size and scope.

Embole was a well backed favourite for a weak looking 0-120 but he's a bit light-framed and angular and is a bit in limbo land at present, being only five, and the market was also very strong for Larch Hill first time over fences.

The latter had looked paceless over timber but he has plenty of size and you can pretty much forget anything he did over the smaller obstacles.

The fast pace suited him to a T and he jumped well enough throughout to see off Wishfull Dreaming, who returned to his previously consistent form without ever really looking like he would outstay or outbattled the winner,

The featured handicap hurdle saw Earlofthecotswolds nicely supported to win at the track once again and he got a nice sit on the front end, very much the right place to be round here.

He looked a credit to connections after a busy campaign and ran on well to the line, seeing off the likes of Collooney who was surprisingly weak in the market but appeared to run his race up in trip.

The Sweeney has a hole in him but seemed to see it out better than before and he could well build on this as he looked to be carrying a bit of condition after a short absence. Regarding Ruth disappointed in appearance and she needs another summer behind her.

The staying handicap hurdle saw the reappearance of the likeable Carrolls Milan and she was strongly fancied to supplement Ludlow gains on the back of a 4lb rise.

I do love a mare with deep reserves of stamina and after being headed on the home turn she went through the gears and battled back to win again; she's very much one to keep onside as she's a battler and again hasn't won by far. She looked in great order beforehand.

The bumper looked wide open with all ages, sizes, and a young filly in Marada making it very difficult to weigh up.

Henderson's Royal Reel is a nice big horse but the concern was whether he'd have enough speed round these sharp turns, and so it proved, while those with experience came to the fore in the finish.

It's not form to take much away from, but it's not as weak as it looks and the likes of Takeit Easy, whose family is well known, are sure to better with Ladronne and Stoner's Choice the types to pay their way over timber.