Cartmel, Huntingdon and Downpatrick

There is jumps racing this afternoon at Cartel and Huntingdon, while the N.Irish track Downpatrick has 3 hurdles races, 3 flat races and a bumper on the card. It would be no surprise were Ruby Walsh to win all the N.H. races, as he has the likely favourote in all 3 races - Noble Crusader for Dermot Weld at 15.35 CET, Chicawayo for Wllie Mullins half an hour later and Conker Nails for W.F.Codd at 16.40. The grandly-named Ulster Cesarewitch at 17.50 is actually a low grade handicap over 2 1/4 miles, in which Tony Martin´s ex-German Green Mile (Robbie Golgan) can make up for some recent disappointments.

The two most interesting races at Huntingdon are the two divisions of the maiden hurdle over 2 miles 1 furlong. Alan King´s Levera (Choc Thornton) was easily the best of these on the flat - rated at 107 in his prime- and should take the first division at 16.40, but the second division looks much more open. Another newcomer to watch is Nicky Henderson´s Scots Dragoon (Felix de Giles), who makes his chasing debut at 17.50; a useful hurdler, he can win this if he jumps round properly. The best race at Cartmel is the class 3 handicap chase at 16.30. Fantastic Arts (Ventia Williams/ Sam Thomas) has an obvious chance and holds Lankawi (Peter Bowen/ Bernie Wharfe) on their latest running, but Moor Spirit (Peter Beaumont/ Gary Berridge) and Brave Broncho (Peter Monteith/ Timmy Murphy) have both been in good form and must be feared.