Williams Could Be In The Mony At Market Rasen

Things couldn't have gone more wrong for Friday and Saturday's selections, who both failed to reach the money. Tatawu was well backed throughout the day before running at Wolves and his priced halved from 16s to 8s in most places. Optimism was high in Stevos' Towers after seeing that, but he drifted all the way back out to 16s before the off and he accordingly ran as if something was amiss. It definitely wasn't his true form but I won't be rushing to back him again until he shows a bit more.

Sirop De Menthe on the other hand probably ran to form, he just did far too much too early and himself and the Skelton horse set a searching pace out in front. They were racing each other from the outset and there was no way he was going to last home.

In fairness to the horse he did well to be as close as he was coming to the second last, but the early exertions took their toll in the closing stages and he faded into a well beaten fourth. He is not one to lose faith in yet though under more patient tactics, and the form of his previous run was franked by Rayvin Black and Melodic Rendezvous in the Grade 2 Kingwell at Wincanton.

Tomorrow there is action on both sides of the Irish Sea and there are a couple of decent Grade 2 heats on the Naas card. However, I like the look of a horse that goes in the class 3 handicap hurdle at 3.20 at Market Rasen (16f soft)and Monyjean is a very interesting contender on the form of his sole hurdles win back in France. This 5yo gelding is a full brother to dual hurdle and dual Grade 1 chase winner Clarcam, and surely he has to be better than he showed on his first two runs for Evan Williams.

His final run in France, at Nantes (17.5f heavy), he made mincemeat of a 3 runner field and the 3rd horse home that day, Label Des Obeaux, has won a Grade 2 at Sandown (20f soft) and was 3rd behind Barters Hill in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury back in December. The 2nd home in that race, Blinis, went on to win next time out, beating a horse called Townshend by 5L, and Townshend has since been bought by Rich Ricci and has a load of fancy entries for Cheltenham.

Monyjean made her debut for Evan Williams back in November in a novice handicap chase at Huntingdon (16.5f soft) off a mark of 130 and was never sighted. It was his first run for 9 months so it is easy enough to put a line through it. He reappeared in a similar heat at Doncaster (16.5f good to soft) and he was again left behind. However, he was sent off at 14/1 in that race so he still probably wasn't in peak condition, and the ground was likely quick enough too.

He returns to hurdles tomorrow for the first time since that excellent win in France, and the handicapper has handed him a mark of 130. I think that could underestimate him back over the smaller obstacles and the ground is forecast to be testing tomorrow, which should suit him well. Tom O'Brien has been booked and he is in super form at the moment, while his record of 3/5 for Williams and 1/1 for Monyjean's owners is another positive.

With only 7 due to go to post there is only 2 places for each way money so it is really down to personal preference as to whether you want to back it each way or in a small win single. I will probably go for the former at odds of 12/1, and hopefully Monyjean can finish what has been a tough week for the blog off on a high note.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.20 MARKET RASEN-MONYJEAN E/W 12/1