N.H. racing at Perth and Fontwell

Autumn is here and today there are 2 N.H. meetings - in Scotland at Perth and in the extremem south of England at Fontwell. At the latter course the beginners chase over 2 1/4 miles at 16.10 CET looks interesting. Jamie Snowden was for a long time assistant to Nicky Henderson, and how he takes on his old boss by saddling Lester Leaps IN (Tom Scudamore) to take on Ingratitude (Tony McCoy). Both look useful recruits based on their hurdle form and could fight out the finish; German-breds Moon Star (Paul Blockly/ Michael Murphy) and Sternenzelt (Sam Lycett/ Willie McCarthy) will need to improve to get a look-in here. Some very competitive handicaps also at Fontwell, for example the 2 3/4 miles hurdle race at 17.10. Archduke Ferdinand, representing the powerful Alan King/ Robert Thornton team, is in good form, but has to give weight to such as Strong Coffee (Oliver Sherwood/ Dominic Elsworth), still a maiden but who ran an excellent race here in the spring, and the consistent Alec ia (Brendan Powell/ James Davies). Nigel Twiston-Davies is usually the trainer to follow at this Perth meeting, and although he had only one winner yesterday, things could go better this time. Crescent Island in the novice chase at 15.50, and Asud with top-weight in the handicap chase at 16.50, both with Paddy Brennan in the saddle, are coming back from a long break but could well outclass the opposition here. Howard Johnson´s string is coming into form, and he can take the handicap hurdle at 17.20 with top-weight and well-bred Sculastic (Colin Gillies).