Cobden looking to be a Soul man in Summer Plate

Harry Cobden goes in search of a fourth straight victory in the Betway Summer Plate at Market Rasen on Saturday aboard Kieran Burke’s Soul Icon.

JP McManus’ new number one has been the man to follow in the Lincolnshire track’s feature in recent years, scoring aboard the Iain Jardine-trained Born Famous in 2023, Olly Murphy’s Sure Touch in 2024 and Gavin Cromwell’s Irish raider Ballysax Hank 12 months ago.

Cobden was in the saddle when nine-time winner Soul Icon enjoyed his finest hour in Kempton’s Desert Orchid Chase in December 2024 – and Burke is hopeful they can form a successful alliance once again in a race he feels will suit his charge down to the ground.

Burke said: “Conditions should be perfect and the track will suit, the trip will suit and he’s going there in good order, I’m really happy with him.

“He’s had a sort of mini break between Aintree and now and he’s done well since he’s come back in.

“Hopefully there is a fair bit of pace on which will help and I think the top-weight (Mahons Glory) will go a good gallop and give us something to track.

“Harry knows him and got on well with him when he won the Desert Orchid on him and hopefully it will all fall into place. He looks the right man to have for the race!”

Also envisaging optimum conditions for his candidate is Newmarket’s Dylan Cunha, whose Mahons Glory has won once and finished second twice in three visits to Market Rasen.

“He looks fantastic and now we just need to get a bit lucky with him,” said Cunha.

“He’s had two seconds there and a win so we know the course suits him. He does like the ground fast and it’s perfect at the moment. He’s in great form for a big jumper and we’re really excited.

“He’s versatile now – we used to have to lead but we dropped him in last time. He settled in third or fourth and when needed he picked up well.

“If they try to push us on Saturday then we will just drop him in and if they leave us alone out there in front he will just do his own thing.”

Peter Bowen won this a record eight times and son Mickey will saddle Queensbury Boy, King Roly and Pour Les Filles as he looks to make his own mark in a race his family is synonymous with.

Dan Skelton’s only win in the race so far came in 2016 with Long House Hall and the champion trainer will be hoping to celebrate the 10th anniversary of that success with another strike courtesy of Kingston Narcissus, who has twice gone close since switching from Rebecca Menzies’ yard.

Skelton said: “This is a race that we have had in mind for Kingston Narcissus since he joined us.

“It will be a fast run race and that will really suit him, as should the ground. I’m looking forward to running him around here, as the track should also play to his strengths. He should go really well.”

Skelton is also represented by the hat-trick seeking handicap debutante Louis Veron and ex-Willie Mullins inmate Charlus in the supporting Betway Summer Handicap Hurdle.

“Louis Veron missed most of last season after finishing second on his debut for us at Chepstow in October. We have had this race in mind for him for a while and he is in good form,” the trainer added.

“The handicapper has given him a chance off this mark (124). I wouldn’t say that he has thrown him in, but he has given him a fair chance.

“He has won his last two starts nicely, and we have kept him right for this race, so he definitely has a squeak.

“Charlus will also run in the race, but he hasn’t been in form at all. He probably does have some back form to be competitive off this mark (122), but it is just not happening for him at the moment.

“I’m sure it will do, but to expect him to go in now in a race like this is a little presumptuous.”