Huntingdon and Rasen

No joy for the two Guest runners at Huntingdon last night. REEDSMAN was reasonable well behaved on this occasion but found little for pressure when asked and was beaten around 14l into seventh place in the conditional jockeys' selling handicap hurdle. Given the particularly poor quality of the race, even by selling standards, this might have been a bit of an opportunity missed. Still, he likes fast ground so will presumably be given a few more opportunities as the summer wears on.

BALLYBOE BOY's jumping was appalling - too big at some fences, rather guessy at others, and he was down on his hindquarters at the water jump. He finished twelfth of thirteen finishers in the handicap chase, and does not look an obvious winner in waiting. This was a Class F chase, so he could hardly step much further down in grade by way of assistance.

As regards today's contests, Richard Guest has left two in at Market Rasen's afternoon meeting, and it's the two horses owned by www.racingtours.co.uk (t/a Gryffindor) which take their chances. You won't be able to miss them - Gryffindor's colours mostly consist of a stinging, eyeball-peeling magenta jacket. BEAUGENCY features in the 2m 6.5f handicap chase, his first attempt at the trip, and connections must be hoping his breathing difficulties don't resurface, as his jumping on his first attempt ovcer fences at Hexham last Tuesday was certainly sound enough.

DIAMOND CUTTER reappears in the novices' hurdle. He had everything fall his way when scoring on his UK debut at Cartmel a week last Saturday; the funereal pace really didn't call into question his race-fitness (this was his first outing for 345 days), and despite being the fastest ground he had encountered over jumps to date, the good to soft, soft places was still perfectly fine for him. How he copes with likely good to firm conditions and a weight concession today is open to conjecture, but then this is not a strong race by any means.