Muntami finds magic at Rasen

MUNTAMI proved his liking for Lincolnshire with victory at Market Rasen – 10 months since his last success at the course.

The 12-1 shot, trained by John Harris at Melton Mowbray, had shown little over hurdles or on the flat since landing a claimer at Rasen in June.

But he came good again at the track yesterday in the opening race, the Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.

Jockey Michael O'Connor produced his mount at just the right moment and the grey, at the age of nine, showed a clean pair of heals to his younger rivals once the winning post came in sight.

"The faster gound helped him and he was full of energy. I will probably bring him back up here for another run in a month," said the trainer.

Scamblesby trainer Steve Gollings saddled top weight Tide Slider in the race but, though the horse showed up well in the early stages, failed to stay with the leaders once they were in the straight.

Moonstreaker (5-2) gave Adam Pogson a great ride in the second race, the Blue Square New iPhone Novices Hurdle, making all to win.

Joint favourite King in Waiting made a gallant effort to catch the winner in the straight but Pogson always looked comfortable.

Last time out, Moonstreaker went far too fast on ground too soft for his liking, but on the good going here, Pogson made sure his mount had plenty left for the run-in.

Trainer Sue Smith's Yorkshire yard has been short of winners of late but her excellent record at Market Rasen was again evident as Work Boy won the first chase of the afternoon.

Backed down to 4-1, the horse improved on his runner-up effort at Sedgefield last time out to score impressively.

Mrs Smith's husband, the legendary showjumper Harvey, had a broad grin as he collected the prize.

Chasing has not gone too well for Bold Punt (3-1), a useful point to pointer and hurdler earlier in his career but wearing cheekpieces for the first time proved rewarding.

Denis O'Regan had him up front for much of the way in the Blue Square Cashback Novices Handicap Chase and held off Brain Harding on Chicgao Alley in determined style on the run-in.

Pembrokeshire trainer Peter Bowen's winning exploits at the big July Summer Plate meeting are well documented with Iron Man perhaps the best of his stable.

For the fifth race Bowen saddled Ballyvesey and Tom O'Brien produced him very late to just get up by two lengths from the Howard Johnson-trained Key Time. Key Time had not been seen on a racecourse for 501 days but hurdled beautifully.

Bowen felt the near 200-mile journey had been well worth it.

"He will go chasing when the next season starts. He does not like it when he gets in front and sometimes reacts, but Tom gets on well with him and produced him late. It's good to win here and I hope to have Iron Man back here in July," said Bowen.

Cloudy Spirit, sent to post second favourite at 2-1, had apprentice Harry Skelton on board in the last hurdle and found extra in the straight to see off a 100-1 winner last time out in Fahrisee

Odds-on favourite Overlaw won the final chase, seeing off three runners saddled by Market Rasen trainer Michael Chapman, whose . horses all finished out of the frame.