Rula Bula worth support at Market Rasen

Rula Bula is difficult to oppose in the Book Boxing Day At The Races EBF Mares' "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle at Market Rasen on Thursday.

The daughter of Mount Nelson enjoyed a highly promising bumper campaign last season, with a win on her second start at Warwick followed by two creditable efforts in defeat at Listed level.

She finished fourth at Doncaster in mid-December and bettered that performance when filling the runner-up spot on her most recent appearance at Sandown in the spring.

With Jonjo O'Neill's string in fine form this autumn, it will be a shade disappointing if Rula Bula is unable to make a successful transition to the jumping game in Lincolnshire.

Olly Murphy is another trainer firing on all cylinders at the moment and the best of several good chances on the card for the trainer could prove to be recent Hereford scorer Bread And Butter.

The nine-year-old has been largely disappointing since moving from Ireland, but snapped a four-year losing streak in some style just over a week ago.

As that triumph came in a conditional and amateur jockeys' race, he is able to line up off the same rating of 102 in his follow-up bid, which is some 20-points lower than his career-high mark of last year.

The combination of a break, a wind operation and a sound surface appeared to bring out the best in Bread And Butter last time and he must have every chance of striking again in the In Loving Memory Of Eileen Brough Handicap Hurdle.

Top-weight Neigh Botha is rated the best bet further north at Sedgefield.

The seven-year-old is another horse who has dropped significantly in the weights in the past year or so and he is only a couple of points higher in the ratings than when bolting up at Southwell in June.

He has struggled slightly since, hence the handicapper's decision to ease his burden, but he was not beaten all that far on his most recent outing and the Sedgefield Legend Roxyfet Novices' Handicap Chase is a race that will not take much winning.

Gore Point is the pick in the South West Rail Solutions Ltd Maiden Hurdle at Taunton.

The Anthony Honeyball-trained gelding made it third time lucky in the bumper sphere with a decisive victory at Stratford last month, his first competitive start since December.

He will presumably strip fitter for that run and if he jumps proficiently, he should prove hard to beat on his first foray over obstacles.

Evening all-weather action comes from Chelmsford, where Arctic Dawn catches the eye in the Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap.

The Blue Point colt has shaped with promise in each of his three starts since finishing down the field on his debut, twice picking up the silver medal on artificial surfaces before placing third when switched to the grass for his handicap debut at Doncaster last time.

That form looks sound, with the runner-up Ey Up Its Jazz going one better on his next start, and Arctic Dawn looks capable of hitting the bullseye off his current perch of 76. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Thuursday. Here are the tips.

SEDGEFIELD: Race 1: 14.05 Foster's Fortune, Race 2: 14.40 Malinka, Race 3: 15.15 Neigh Botha, Race 4: 15.50 Reel Rosie, Race 5: 16.25 Zwicky, Race 6: 17.00 Morandi Second.

MARKET RASEN: Race 1: 14.20 Dark Mix, Race 2: 14.55 RULA BULA (NAP), Race 3: 15.30 Inoui Machin, Race 4: 16.05 Eyed, Race 5: 16.40 Bread And Butter, Race 6: 17.15 East Eagle.

TAUNTON: Race 1: 14.30 Jet Of Dreams, Race 2: 15.05 Mr Zee, Race 3: 15.40 Tuxedo Junction, Race 4: 16.15 Gore Point, Race 5: 16.50 Lock Out, Race 6: 17.25 Linda Moon.

CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 19.00 Magic Glow, Race 2: 19.30 Anamika, Race 3: 20.00 Arctic Dawn, Race 4: 20.30 Flaine, Race 5: 21.00 Dashing Donkey, Race 6: 21.30 Muscika, Race 7: 22.00 War Zone, Race 8: 22.30 Sunset In Paris.

ALL TO COME: Rula Bula and Bread And Butter (Market Rasen, Races 2 and 5).