Hey Day Baby is back in action for the club this evening as she heads to Market Rasen for the Class 5 Handicap Chase (19:20) over 2m5f.

Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Hey Day Baby lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).

Raceday LIVE Preview

The club's six-year-old mare was last seen at the beginning of June were unfortunately she had to be pulled up on her chase debut at Uttoxeter by today's jockey, Benjamin Macey, after it was discovered she'd bled during the race.

Previous to that run, Hey Day Baby put in one of her best performances yet when finishing fourth at Fonwell, albeit in a handicap hurdle contest. Subsequent of that effort, the O'Neill team were keen to focus her over fences. Switching from hurdles to fences is no easy feat, and you have to be a certain type of horse, not just physically but also mentally, to be successful over the bigger obstacles.

However, straight away Hey Day Baby began to display plenty of promise whilst schooling over fences at Jackdaws Castle, and she's continued to do so whilst working towards her next race.

WATCH: Raceday video update from trainer A J O'Neill


In today's Class 5 Handicap Chase, Hey Day Baby is dropping back in trip from three miles to 2m5f, which will be the first time she runs over this distance having previously ran over 2m and 2m3f as well. We know from her previous runs that she does like to try get on with things, so it'll be Ben Macey's job to do his best to try preserve some of her energy to help her see out the race and hopefully have some left in the tank for when it comes to matter most.

During her point-to-point days, she was a winner over three miles, so there are no concerns about her stamina, but ultimately she does need to settle better if she's going to give herself a chance of going close. Hey Day Baby is the lowest rated horse in the race (69), and with Ben's 10lb claim, it means she's only carrying 9st7lb on her back, so hopefully the pair can try take advantage of that today.

She's set to face 10 rivals, and there will be 14 fences in total to navigate over. The ground report is currently Good, which should be ideal for our mare.

Trainer and Jockey Statistics

Jonjo & A J O'Neill have had 16 winners so far this season up and down the country, but from 12 attempts they're yet to get off the mark at Market Rasen.

Benjamin Macey is a young conditional jockey who is permanently based at Jackdaws Castle with the O'Neill team. Before A J joined the training licence, Ben rode 18 times for Jonjo, including one victory and eight placed efforts. So far this season, he's had six rides for A J & Jonjo, including one win which was at Warwick.

Hey Day Baby's Owners for the Day

As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Hey Day Baby's run at Market Rasen this evening.

Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Market Rasen Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Hey Day Baby and the Jonjo & A J O'Neill team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Hey Day Baby.

Prize Money

Today's Class 5 contest is worth £8,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £4,357 for their lucky owners.

2nd: £2,007 | 3rd: £1,003 | 4th: £502

Today's Opposition

 

• Unwanted Attention is the strong favourite for today's contest who will be ridden by Coral Ambassador, Sean Bowen. The six-year-old won very well over C&D at the beginning of June, and has posted some solid efforts since, so he is likely to be the one they all have to beat.
  
  
• Pawpaw put in a much better performance last time out when finishing sixth in a big field at Uttoxeter, and experienced jockey Richie McLernon jumps back in the saddle today which is a big plus as he was onboard when he finished third at Worcester at the end of June.
  
  
• Onenightintown is another course and distance winner who was also on the scoreboard earlier this year at Catterick, but has since struggled off a higher mark.

    MARKET RASEN 19:20 – LATEST BETTING HERE    

We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 19:20 to watch Hey DayBaby's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.