Leicester, Market Rasen and Ripon

There is also flat racing this afternoon from Leicester and Ripon as well as N.H. racing from Market Rasen. Obviously nothing can compare to the racing at Sandown, but Leicester does stage a listed race over 7 furlongs at 16.50, which should concern mainly Al Qasi (Peter Chappe-Hyam/ Alan Munro), who had no chance last time in the Hong Kong Mile, but is the clear choice on earlier form, and Barry Hills´ Captain Marvellous, with son Michael in the saddle. Alan Munro can complete a double on Sir Michael Stoute´s Tartan Bearer in the maiden race over 10 furlongs at 18.00; this brother to Group One winner Golan has 15 opponents but should still outclass the lot of them. At Ripon the main event is a class 2 handicap over 2 miles at 16.40; Michael Bell´s Highland Legacy (Neil Callan) showed much improved form last autumn and can continue his winning run here, with Winged d´Argent (Bernard Llewellyn/ William Buick) the main threat. John Gosden´s smart Raincoat (Ted Durcan) looks a near certainty - at very short odds- in the final conditions race over 1 1/2 miles at 18.55. At Market Rasen, the class 3 handicap chse over 2 12 miles at15.55 is the best race; this should mainly concern top-weight Ruairi (Suzy Smith/ Colin Bolger) and last-time-out winner King Mak (Peter Beaumont/ Gary Berridge)