Market Rasen winner John Constable could head next to the Galway Hurdle

2.10 Betfred TV Summer Handicap Hurdle

Result:

1st John Constable 4/1F
2nd Red Tornado 6/1
3rd Kapstadt 6/1

Click here for the full result and the free video replay

John Constable could head to Ireland for the Galway Hurdle after defying a 16lb rise in the weights with an emphatic victory under Davy Russell.

Trainer Evan Williams is tempted to look at the highly-competitive and very valuable handicap after the six-year-old backed up his Swinton Hurdle success at Haydock in May in some style.

Russell, making his first appearance at the Lincolnshire course for many years, kept John Constable towards the rear before unleashing the 4-1 favourite in the straight.

Leading at the final flight, John Constable got home two and a half lengths clear of last year's winner Red Tornado, with a further two lengths away to Kapstadt in third.

Williams believes the reason for John Constable's improved form is his liking for the warmer weather.

"He's a different horse. He's by Montjeu and they can be tricky. He was always a good horse in hiding, but we could never get him to win," said the Llancarfan trainer.

"He came to life before the Swinton. I wanted to go Royal Ascot with him for the two-mile handicap, but he got balloted out. Then the Flat programme frightened me a bit, so I thought we'd come here.

"He's entered in the Galway Hurdle. I will have to see how he is.

"It's good we've had a warm spring and summer. He loves the sun on his back.

"He's a very good horse when conditions are right and he's in the right frame of mind."

Russell said: "I rode a couple of winners years ago and it's good to be back. This horse is good when conditions are right.

"I don't know about the Galway Hurdle. There's the travelling over and it's a week on Thursday, so we'll have to see how he is.

"The race might suit him if he's in the best of health, but it's a very competitive race."

3.20 Betfred Summer Plate Handicap Chase

Result:

1st Alcala 9/1
2nd Wadswick Court 20/1
3rd Shelford 5/1F

Click here for the full result and the free video replay

Alcala stayed on strongly to complete a hat-trick in a competitive renewal of the Betfred Summer Plate.

Sam Twiston-Davies timed his run to perfection on the Paul Nicholls-trained grey to head Wadswick Court at the final fence.

The latter had looked the likely winner when taking over from the pace-setting pair of Days Of Heaven and Midnight Shot at the third-last fence.

However, Alcala (9/1) came with a wet sail on the far side to go and land the rich spoils by three-quarters of a length from 20/1 shot Wadswick Court.

Shelford, the 5/1 favourite stayed on well for third, four and a half lengths away, without getting in a blow at the first two.

The winner may now go for the Galway Plate on August 2.

"He'll go to Galway Plate if he gets in," said Nicholls' representative, Andrew Doyle.

Graham Walker, of the winning Owners Group 016 Syndicate, said: "He's done well for us. We've had him about 18 months and that's four races he's won for us now."

Twiston-Davies said: "He's won his last two races and (I thought) he might have gone up a bit too much in the handicap, but he got into a lovely rhythm.

"They went a good gallop. A fast-run race like this really suits him and he jumps and stays well."

More news from Market Rasen:

Hestina will keep switching codes after showing her versatility when making all to win the Betfred Super League Novices' Hurdle.

Trainer Dan Skelton will put the dual Flat winner back on the level at Newmarket next month, after she ran her rivals into the ground over jumps, but she will return to the Lincolnshire venue in September for the Prelude Hurdle.

Harry Skelton took no prisoners from the outset on Hestina (2/1) and though she had Mcgroarty for company for most of the two-mile heat, she easily brushed the 10/11 favourite aside to score by 12 lengths.

"I think the favourite probably wanted further, so what the form will end up being like, I don't know, but she did it nicely," said the winning handler.

"She would have been out of the handicap in the Summer Hurdle, so I didn't run her in that. She'll go to Newmarket for a fillies' race in three weeks then she'll come back here for the Prelude Hurdle."

Trainer and jockey completed a double with Whatzdjazz (7/4 favourite) looked a mare on the up as she defeated Guitar Pete by four and a half lengths in the Betfred 'Supports Jack Berry House' Handicap Hurdle.

"She hacked up in a novice hurdle the other day. The handicapper put her up 7lb, which I thought was fair," said Skelton.

"I didn't think she'd be able to beat it, but she's done that quite comprehensively.

"She'll have three weeks out in the field, then we'll get her ready for the final of the fixed brush hurdle series at Worcester. Then we'll chase a bit of black type for her."

Blue Comet (8/11 favourite) comfortably landed the odds with an all-the-way win over three rivals in the Fussey Engineering Novices' Hurdle.

A slightly unlucky loser on his previous visit to this track, the Fergal O'Brien-trained six-year-old got off the mark at the eighth attempt.

Paddy Brennan was allowed an easy lead in front and after losing market rival Mister Showman some way out, Blue Comet had enough in the tank to see off Ebony Rose by 13 lengths.

"He deserved that," said O'Brien."He was unlucky here two starts ago. He was in front and made a bad mistake at the second-last. He was also third at Perth since, but we rode him differently and tried to hold him up.

"He's made amends today, so we're delighted. The owner's a good supporter of ours and it's nice for him to get his head in front." 

The John Quinn-trained Chebsey Beau, the 25/1 outsider of six, nailed 11-8 favourite Lovely Job on the run-in under Tom O'Brien to take the Betfred Mobile Novices' Handicap Chase by two and a quarter lengths .

Muwalla (3/1) stayed on well from the last for 3lb claimer Callum Bewley to outpoint Spring Steel by three-quarters of a length in the Betfred 'Celebrating 50 Years Of Success' Handicap Chase.

"The drop in trip after his good run at Perth last week helped him and the more we keep him busy the more he likes it," said trainer Lisa Harrison.