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Nic Doggett's Market Rasen tips: Bowen to spoil Skelton's summer party
By Nic Doggett
Last Updated: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Nic Doggett is taking on three Dan Skelton-trained favourites with his best bets on Market Rasen's big card on Saturday.
2.10 Market Rasen: Letterston Lily
Perhaps surprisingly, Dan Skelton hasn't won the Betway Summer Handicap Hurdle (2.10) since Red Tornado gave him (and his brother Harry) his sole victory back in 2016, but clearly it will have been on the trainer's mind for a while as he continues his early-summer assault on the trainers' championship.
The lightly-raced Louis Veron could easily be a long way ahead of his handicap mark of 124, though it should be noted that it has been raised 8 lb since he sauntered clear of the 116-rated Maskarvel at Stratford last month. With a profile very similar to Red Tornado – who won this off 129 - he's hugely respected, but he makes little appeal at 2-1.
Tom Lacey has a fine record here and his lightly-raced C&D winner Squeezebox looks a big player, as does Swinton winner Moon Chime and the well-treated chaser Newtown Rambler, but general 9-1 chance Letterston Lily is preferred of the three interesting runners at the foot of the weights.
The Mickey Bowen-trained mare is only 6 lb higher than when winning at Perth on her return in April, a race she would have won despite Les Mingle departing at the last. She looks to have been saved for this (ran well at this meeting in 2024), has no problem with quick ground, and should have the race run to suit her hold-up style.
2.10 Market Rasen: Queensbury Boy
As above, 2016 was the last time Skelton won the Betway Summer Plate Handicap Chase (2.45), but Kingston Narcissus would be a strong second leg to the double should Louis Veron oblige. He's been second in both starts since leaving Rebecca Menzies, behind Newtown Rambler last time, and cheekpieces go on as he bids to defy a 3 lb higher mark.
Soul Icon is likely to be ridden forward now away from the Grand National fences, and he might be one of several who ensure this is run at a strong gallop throughout. While that will suit the market leader, it should also favour 6-1 second-favourite Queensbury Boy who stays three miles well.
A recruit from the dispersal sale of David Maxwell's horses, the seven-year-old beat Quebecois in points early in his career and showed bits of form for Mickey Bowen when sent chasing last term.
He was sent off favourite for a Uttoxeter race at the end of last month but was done no favours by a standing start and fluffed his lines at the first in a major way. That he could launch some sort of challenge at the second-last pays testament to both his fair handicap mark and determination; first-time cheekpieces appear to be on more for concentration than encouragement.
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2.10 Market Rasen: Master Haku
Elsewhere on the card, Loriko will be expected by many to carry a double penalty to victory in the opening Betway Free Bet Club Novices' Hurdle at 1.35, but I think he might struggle to concede weight in this better race to some decent rivals, primarily Master Haku.
The Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old was pulled up over three miles at Kilbeggan when last seen in May, but that was a leap into the unknown in terms of the trip for this two-mile winner.
Related to Le Patriote, who was a winner at this course over shorter for Richard Newland, the drop back in distance looks a good move for this Masked Marvel gelding and he's fancied to upset the Skelton bandwagon at the (figurative) first hurdle.
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