Malakai could reward patience at Rasen

Howard Johnson's patience can be rewarded with Malakai in the Blue Square's New iPhone App Novices' Hurdle at Market Rasen tomorrow.

Johnson was disrupted more than most by the awful winter weather, and for a good spell of the season his County Durham base was either under snow or frozen solid, writes Guy Walker.

Now the sunshine has finally arrived, Johnson can get to work with his good-ground horses – and Malakai certainly falls into that category.

A son of the great Double Trigger, he was a relatively cheap purchase at 40,000 guineas and is already looking a bargain after his first two races.

On his racecourse introduction he won a bumper at Hexham, beating a newcomer from the Alan Swinbank yard, among others, which is never an easy thing to do.

Malakai goes in the second race of the day at the Lincolnshire racecourse (2.40) and will be pushed hard by Sergeant Pink at 3-1 and King In Waiting who goes off at 7-2.

The big race of the day, the £8,000 Cheltenham Bonuses at Bluesquare.com Handicap Hurdle (4:10) sees Tarabaloo leading the betting at 9-4 followed by Ballyvesey at 7-2.

However, Irish raider Rayshan is expected to run a big race and is good value at 10-1.

In the first race (2:10) Ban Uisce is expected to start favourite.