Punting pointers: everything you need to know for the Summer Plate

188Bet Summer Plate Handicap Chase (Listed) | 2m5f89y | 4yo+ | ITV3/RUK

Sam out to bring up the double on Alcala

It is meant to be high summer yet Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson reprise their old rivalry for Market Rasen's chasing highlight.

Nicholls saddles three, including last year's winner Alcala, while champion trainer Henderson returns with Days Of Heaven, only seventh in the 2017 running.

Alcala signalled a return to form when second to stablemate Bagad Bihoue at Newton Abbot last month, but Sam Twiston-Davies has jumped off the winner to attempt the double on the top weight.

Nicholls said: "Alcala is 1lb higher than he was last year but we have had this race in mind since he came back in. He ran a tidy race when second to Bagad. Obviously this is more competitive but he acts on the course.

"Even though Sam rode Bagad Bihoue last time he was adamant he was going to ride Alcala. We did fancy Bagad to run well last time because he is best fresh. He's never run particularly well in big fields but in theory he shouldn't be too far away from Alcala."

Near the bottom of the weights Nicholls also has Monsieur Gibraltar, who has joined from Rose Loxton.

"He has been carrying huge weights in hunter chases and does like decent ground," said Nicholls. "The only downside is he has been on the go a long while, but with Lorcan [Williams] taking 7lb off he is on a very handy weight."

Calett Mad goes back over fences

After a successful spell novice hurdling Calett Mad reverts to chasing for the first time since April last year.

Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "He came from France and as a great big horse we took him straight over fences. He got to a high rating, then we took him over hurdles as he was a novice, which was a good idea.

"I'm hoping he might be quite well handicapped back over fences but he may need a tiny bit further."

Skelton star out to shine off low weight

Too Many Diamonds owes Dan Skelton nothing having won four times in eight days last year and has embarked on another streak since returning to action.

"He's a star of a horse who joined as a maiden and has now won seven," said Skelton. "He showed us his suitability and toughness and now he has to show if he can handle a step up in class. Off 10st he has an opportunity to do that off as little weight as possible."

Bowen chasing more Market Rasen bucks

More Buck's used to be trained by Nicholls and made a winning start at Perth for Peter Bowen, who also runs Wadswick Court.

Bowen said: "The horse More Buck's beat [Pickamix] has won since so it looks like quite good form. He went up 8lb but on old form he's quite well in.

"Wadswick Court was second in the race last year but is carrying more weight this time. He is 9lb worse off with Alcala and he is a better horse than he was last year, but whether he is 10lb better I wouldn't know."

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