By the time Sunday afternoon unfolds at Market Rasen Racecourse, the Lincolnshire track will present a competitive seven-race National Hunt programme on March 15 that blends novice opportunity with testing handicap contests. Scheduled from 1:47pm to 5:17pm, the meeting features hurdles and steeplechases across Classes 4 and 5, with prize money ranging between £7,000 and £12,500.
The afternoon will begin at 1:47pm with the Supporting UK Horse Racing EBF Junior ‘National Hunt’ Hurdle Race, a Class 4 contest run over 2m 131y for £11,000. Six runners are set to take their chance in the opening event, where emerging hurdlers will look to establish themselves early on the card.
At 2:22pm, attention turns to the First Past The Post Maiden Hurdle Race, staged over 2m 4f 145y for £10,000. Eight runners will line up in this Class 4 event, offering horses still seeking their first victory over hurdles a valuable opportunity to break their maiden.
The third race at 2:57pm introduces the first chasing test of the afternoon with the Handicap Steeple Chase. Seven runners will tackle 2m 1f 106y in this Class 5 contest for £9,500, where accurate jumping and tactical pace could prove decisive.
At 3:32pm, the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Race will bring together a smaller but competitive field of five runners. Run over 2m 2f 146y for £7,000, the Class 5 event offers lightly raced hurdlers the chance to improve their handicap credentials.
Stamina will become a major factor at 4:07pm in the Live Racing Streaming Handicap Hurdle Race. Seven runners will attempt the longer journey of 2m 7f 22y in this Class 4 event worth £11,000, where endurance and consistent jumping will likely determine the outcome.
The 4:42pm Mares’ Handicap Steeple Chase at Market Rasen Racecourse features four runners competing over 3m 91y for the day’s top prize of £12,500. Musique de Fee will carry top weight of 12st with a BHA rating of 120. The seven-year-old mare will be ridden by Sean Bowen and is trained by Mickey Bowen, who also owns the horse. Malaita lines up next with Toby Wynne in the saddle carrying 11st 6lbs and holds a BHA rating of 112 for trainer Mel Rowley and owners Four Gents.
Overabottleofred, a ten-year-old mare trained by Tom Gretton for owner Ms C. Davis, will race off 10st 9lbs with jockey Gavin Sheehan and has a BHA rating of 101. Queens Wish completes the field carrying 10st 8lbs with Charlie Todd booked to ride for trainers Charles and Adam Pogson and owners New Vision Bloodstock, entering the race with a BHA rating of 100 as the mares prepare for the stamina-testing feature contest of the afternoon.
The meeting will conclude at 5:17pm with the Best Odds Guaranteed Overnight Handicap Hurdle Race, a Class 5 event over 2m 131y worth £7,250. Six runners will line up for the final race of the afternoon, providing one last competitive test before the curtain falls on the day’s racing.
As the final strides are taken at Market Rasen Racecourse, the Market Rasen racecards 15 March will reflect a meeting built on competitive handicaps, emerging hurdlers, and stamina-testing contests that capture the enduring appeal of National Hunt racing.
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