Key questions and trainer views as Skeltons eye another Summer Hurdle triumph

188Bet Summer Handicap Hurdle (Listed) | 2m148y | 3yo+ | ITV3/RUK

Has Harry picked the right one?

Dan and Harry Skelton won the prize two years ago with Red Tornado, who was also second last year.

They bring fresh blood into the biggest handicap hurdle since the Swinton in May in the form of the unexposed Fair Mountain and the more experienced Mister Universum.

Fair Mountain is Harry Skelton's pick for only his fourth outing over hurdles and first in handicap company. He was a Listed winner and Group 2-placed on the Flat in Germany and has scope to improve further.

Mister Universum has won three of his last six races and will be a very strong second string under Bridget Andrews.

The right prescription

For Grand National-winning trainer Richard Newland, this card is "one of our favourite days".

He won this prize three years ago and, like Skelton, will saddle two challengers from three initial entries.

Since Hassle eased to victory on the track in June he went on to perform with credit in the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting.

Artful Artist, off the mark by ten lengths at Southwell last time, is Sam Twiston-Davies's pick for a stable which has won with five of its last six runners.

King for a day

Connor King, a two-time champion Flat apprentice in Ireland, has a chance to claim his biggest success since switching country and codes on the John Quinn-trained Southwell winner Je Suis Charlie.

King rode 125 winners on the Flat and has four over jumps so far, having had ten rides this season.

What they say

Evan Williams, trainer of Court Minstrel
We kept him in hoping a bit of sunshine would keep him going. The old chassis is showing a bit of wear and tear. I'm hoping he can carry the weight with this drop in class.

Iain Jardine, trainer of L'Inganno Felice
It's his first time in a handicap. He's won his novice hurdles nicely. Last time he was a bit unsuited by the track and the way the race was run. I think he's better going right-handed as well so he's back at Market Rasen. It's very competitive and we're going there optimistic rather than confident. He's a very nice horse who will jump fences as well.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Fair Mountain and Mister Universum
I think they're difficult to split. Fair Mountain is a little bit like Red Tornado two years ago when he won. He's coming off the back of novice hurdle wins and is unexposed in handicaps so we don't know where he stands. It was a hard decision for Harry to make because Mister Universum is in good form and also won last time. Harry went with the novice but I think they'll both run nicely.

Richard Newland, trainer of Hassle and Artful Artist
They're both training very well and it's quite difficult to split them. Hassle has a good record at Market Rasen. He won the autumn version of this race two years ago and has come back strongly having had time off. Artful Artist is in a good vein of form having won nicely last time. He's at the right of the end of the weights but whether he's quite quick enough for the race, I'm not sure.

James Eustace, trainer of Captain Felix
It's a step up in class but it's the only suitable two-mile handicap on a right-handed track to run in, so we thought we'd have a go.

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