Newton Abbot, Redcar and Stratford

N.H. racing is centre stage in the U.K. today the flat racing at Redcar, despite some huge fields, is of very low quality. At Newto Abbot, the maiden hurdle over 2 3/4 miles at 15.30 has 15 runners, but on all known form should only concern the consistent Archduke Ferdinand (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) and Think Lucky (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore), 2nd of 17 to a subsequent winner last time out. The class 3 handicap hurdle over 2 miles 3 furlongs an hour laer looks quite open, but the two lastr-time-out winners Viper (Reg Hollinshead/ David Dennis) and Mizen Raven (Alison Thorpe/ Richard Johnson) hold as good a chance as any. Paul Nicholls´ stable form has gone slightly off the boil, but his Qrackers (Sam Thomas) is still the most interesting runner of the day; he has won 3 of last 4 starts over hurdles with the greatest of ease and now makes his chasing debut in the beginners race at 17.00. At Stratfod, the class 3 nivice hurde at 16.40 looks the beste event. Charlie Mann´s Our Choice (Noel fehily) is talented and has won hius last 2 races, but now carries a doube penalty and it is not sure that he can concede the weight to Darfen (J.L.Flint/ Tom O´Brien), an easy CD winner last time, or the debutant Rapid City (Jenny Fielden/ Dominic Elsworth), who has the best flat form in the field. The class 3 handicap chase over 2 miles 7 furlongs at 17.10 could lie between top-weight, the very consistent Fieldsofclover (Emma Lavelle/ Jack Doyle) and bottom-weight Sea Wall (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy). Bes race at Redcar is the class 4 handicap over 6 furlongs at 17.20. This looks very open, with the lightly-raced Prince Hamlet (Brian Smart/ Ted Durcan) and the much-improved Babyshambles (R.E.Barr/ Royston Ffrench) both holding chances, while Ann Stokell, who has a cult following and has her horses in great form at present, is represeented by Steel City Boy, runner-up at Hamilton last Thursday.