MARKET Rasen races beat the storms this week – and top jockey AP McCoy proved he is a man for all seasons.
The latest fixture at the Lincolnshire course survived a mid-morning precautionary inspection at the height of Thursday's storm.
Though the crowd was severely depleted after advice not to travel, horses and jockeys braved the weather and were pleased when the gale abated.
Eighteen-time champion jockey McCoy, often termed the 'man for all seasons', typically made his mark with a double from the first two races on the card.
In the final race, a bumper, he made it a treble.
First he was on board the Steve Gollings-trained Handiwork (11/2).
The Scamblesby trainer booked the champ to ride the three-year-old who was making his hurdles debut in the Casino Juvenile Class 4 opener and, despite some moderate form on the flat, the local horse showed them all the way home to score easily enough.
In the second race, McCoy was on board the strongly-fancied Captain Cutter, who went to post the 1/7 favourite.
Despite not jumping too confidently, McCoy brought his charge to the front at the last, and eased up approaching the line.
He was the class horse in the race on the back of three wins in bumpers last season and, followed this with an impressive display of hurdling on his debut over the smaller obstacles at Kempton a month ago.
He was sent off there at short odds, but again like here at Market Rasen, got away with some sloppy jumping.
The third race was the first chase of the afternoon, the 'Emerald Green Feeds Novices Handicap Chase' and there were plenty of backers for Distime (7/4f) owned by Barton-upon-Humber-based Middleham Park Racing.
In October 2012, Distime made his chase debut at Aintree, finishing second.
He had, though, been off the racecourse since, but the Aintree race was decent form.
He was upstaged here by Samstown, who had Alistair Whillans on board for trainer Ewan Whillans.
The staying ability of the bottom weight was not in question and, on the good-to-soft ground, the six-year-old ran on well to score from Distime in a race in which only three of the seven runners completed the trip in the adverse conditions.
There were blanks for McCoy in this and the following race, where he pulled up Very Stylish – who was anything but – on the second circuit.
The 32Red Handicap Chase saw some impressive jumping from top weight Acrai Rua (9/1), who had Brian Hughes on board.
Nearest challenger was 2/1 favourite Roseneath, who was five lengths adrift when the post arrived.
Trainer Alex Hales had Noel Fehily up on Roseneath, who impressed when winning at Carlisle in April and might well have got closer here had it not been for clattering a fence on the second circuit and losing ground.
Trainer of the winner Acrai Rua was Tim Fitzgerald, who said: "He stays well and liked the ground today. His mark is his lowest for a while and we will look at bringing him back for the Lincolnshire National on Boxing Day."
Shimla Dawn (9/2) won the Red.com Handicap Hurdle by ten lengths with Peter Buchanon on board.
The Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, the sixth race, saw King Zeal (6/1) overturn unimpressive form for trainer Barry Leavy.
Market Rasen trainer Michael Chapman saddled Volcanic Jack who finished fourth.
The bumper at the bottom of the card provided McCoy's win to complete his treble.
The champ was on board Bandit Country, the 6/4 joint favourite trained by Jonjo O'Neill.
Now all eyes focus on Boxing Day, with fingers crossed that the fixture can survive the elements.
