Great Leighs, Ripon and Sligo

3 meetings today, but very modest fare all round. At Great Leighs the best race is the class 4 handicap over 1 3/4 miles at 16.30, which looks very competitive. City Stable (Sir Michael/ Stoute/ Ryan Moore) is still a maiden and quite possibly the worst horse in the yard, but still has a chance after being beaten a head at Catterick 11 days ago. Callisto Moon (Ian Williams/Chris catlin) is generally consistent, both on the flat and over hurdles, and has also now finished runner-up twice. Last-time-out winners Darksideofthemoon (Nick Gifford/ Paul Doe) and Casual Affair (Jamie Bethell/ Jimmy Quinn) hae at least shown that they are capable of winning, albeit at a very low level, but our preference is for lightly-weighted Natural Action (Willie Jarvis/Jimmy Fortune), who has only won once in 14 starts but has been in the money his last six races.

At Ripon, the lightly-raced Rose Street (Michael Jarvis/ Philip Robinson) looks likely to start at a short price in the class 3 handicap over 10 furlongs at 16.15 after her excellent seasonal debut. German-bred Turfshuffle (Ian Williams/ Steven Donohoe) has been dropped in the weights following two poor performances but still has it all to do under top weight. The 2yo race over 5 furlongs at 16.45 has only 5 runners but looks quite interesting, as Thunderous Mood (Paul Cole/ John Egan) and Caranbola (Mel Brittain/ Alan Munro) have both shown useful form but must give weight to the promising Magic Cat (Karl Burke/ Andrew Elliott). In Irelad there is a mixed meeting at Sligo (3 flat races, 3 hurdles and a bumper) and the two maoden hurdle can go to The Bay Lad (Pat Fahey/ Mr. J.A.Fahey) at 19.35 and an hour later Caim Hill (Philip Fenton/ Mr. B.T.O´Connell), who is making his hurdles debut after winning two bumpers. Best race on the flat is the sales race for 2yo fillies at 18 .05, which can go to Lough Mist (Tracy Collins/ Pat Shanahan), who is getting weight from her main competitors.