Williams sets his sights on valuable Market Rasen features

With a total of £85,000 in prize-money on offer for the two feature events at Market Rasen’s summer jumps showpiece on Saturday, it is no wonder many trainers carefully target the Betfred Summer Plate and Betfred TV Summer Handicap Hurdle.

Ian Williams, who will be represented by Poker School in the Listed chase and Kapstadt in the Listed hurdle, is no exception.

“It’s fantastic to see prize-money like this for jumpers over the summer months,” Williams said. “It gives some great opportunities and will hopefully provide some great racing.”

Poker School, who attracted support on Wednesday and was cut to 10-1 (from 14) by the sponsors, has been kept fresh for the Summer Plate.

“We feel he’s probably best fresh and have taken that approach this time,” Williams said. “He got hammered in the handicap after winning at Kempton on Boxing Day but is in good form and the likely fast pace at Market Rasen will suit.”

Kapstadt, in terrific form on the Flat this summer, having landed a valuable 1m2f handicap at Newmarket last month after twice finishing runner-up at Chester, will be the stable’s representative in the Summer Hurdle.

Kapstadt: heads to Market Rasen in good form after running well on the FlatCredit: Edward Whitaker

“He goes into the race in good form, having run well on the Flat,” Williams said. “He showed he'll stay a bit further when not beaten far over a mile and a half in the Old Newton Cup last time.

“I think his hurdles mark is fair, and the faster the ground the better for him.”

Richard Newland has fared well at this meeting in recent years – he won the Summer Hurdle with Gran Maestro in 2015 and the Summer Plate via Bobowen in 2013 – and intends to saddle 2015 Imperial Cup hero Ebony Express in the Summer Hurdle, for which the gelding was on Wednesday shortened to 5-1 favourite (from 6) by Betfred (6-1 best with Sky Bet).

Ebony Express and Will Kennedy head for victory in the Imperial CupCredit: Alan Crowhurst

“He’s in great nick,” Newland said. “He surprised us when he won at Uttoxeter on his reappearance as we felt he might need the run. This race at Market Rasen has always been the target.”

Newland, a huge supporter of summer jumping, added: “It’s good to have target meetings in the summer. We’ve enjoyed great success at this meeting in the past and are likely to have two runners on Saturday – Ebony Express and Mcgroarty in the novices’ hurdle.”