N.H. racing at Stratford and Wincanton

Both today´s N.H. meetings at Stratford and Wincanton have some large fields with competitive racing, but the best bet of the day should be Andrew Balding´s Albinus (Darren O´Dwyer), likely to start at a very short price in Wincanton´s novice hurdle over 2 miles at 15.50 CET. Last time out he fnished third in the Imperial Cup at Sandown, form which is far better than anything his 16 opponents today have ever achieved. An interesting long-shot at the meeting is German-bred Absolut Power (Jonathan Geake/Daryl Jacob), who has been below form this season but has now dropped to a very favourable weight in the novices handicap chase at 17.30. At Stratford, top-weight Lord Ryeford (Tom George/ Noel Fehily), who fnished a respetable 10th of 20 in a much hotter race at Cheltenham, can take the handicap chase at ^16.40, although Down the Stretch (J.R.Payne/ Liam Treadwell), an easy winner a week ago at Newton Abbot, looks dangerous. Felinious (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) is an ineresring runner in thr mares handcap hurdle at 17.10. She won 4 successive races last summer, but has not been out since. With the stable still very quiet, preference is for Iron Maid (Oliver Sherwood/ Dominic Elsworth) and the lightly-weighted Diavoleria (Mick Easterby/ Brian Hughes)