Burke looking forward to Summer Plate task Johnny Burke has high hopes that Midnight Shot can make his presence felt in the Betfred Summer Plate Handicap Chase at Market Rasen on Saturday. Trainer Charlie Longsdon has recently appointed the Irishman as his stable jockey and the pair hope to get their association off to a flyer. Midnight Shot warmed up for the valuable contest when pipping fellow Plate contender Cup Final to complete a hat-trick at Hexham last month. "He's been in good form, albeit in smaller fields, and it's a bigger test this weekend," Burke told At The Races. "I had a sit on him last week when I was over. I schooled him and am very much looking forward to riding him. "I'm looking to move the week after Galway and start on the 7th (of August). It will be a complete fresh start and hopefully I'll make a good fist of it." It's A Gimme, the winner in 2014, spearheads a three-pronged attack from owner JP McManus. The 10-year-old was steered to victory by Tony McCoy three years ago and with the perennial champion jockey retired, he will be ridden by Aidan Coleman. One of two runners from the Jonjo O'Neill stable, It's A Gimme has had the benefit of two outings this summer since returning from a 10-month break. "He's going back there again. He's higher in the weights, but Jonjo's happy with him and it's a lovely race to have runners in. He's hoping for a good run," said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus. O'Neill's other contender is I'dliketheoption, who returned to form with a nice win over this course in May. "He lost his way a bit, but he's back in good form and we're hoping for the best," said Berry. The Ben Haslam-trained Cup Final completes the McManus raid and the eight-year-old appears to be enjoying a change of scenery having left Nicky Henderson's stable, with one win and two seconds in four starts for the North Yorkshire handler. "He's a novice so probably lacks a bit of experience, but he's been running well all summer," said Berry. "He'll learn a lot from the race but we're hoping that he'll run well."
