N.H. racing at Ascot, Exeter and Kelso

Three jumps meetings today and all of them offer some good quality racing, although some of the fields are quite small. At Ascot, the first 3 races could be the most interesting, with some useful propsects in view in each event. The novice hurdle at 13.55 could lie between the two debutants Mad Max (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) and Karabak (Alan King/ Robert Thornton), who both had smart bumper form last season. The beginners chase at 14.30 sees the chasing debut of Massini´s Maguire (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), who defeated Tidal Bay (!) at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival. Obviiisly that form makes him clear favourite now although he has been off the track for 19 months. Irish raider Slash and Burn (Charlie Swan/ Davy Russell), runner-up at the last meeting here, will take advantage of any weakness. The introductory hurdle at 15.05 has 9 runners, 5 of whom won in good style last time out. Ex-German Bergo (Evan Williams/ Donal Fahy) was one of them, and although the oppo sition is much tougher now, he could again go well. Ar Exeter, the previously smart saying hurdler ichita Linesman (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) runs in the 3 mile novice chase at 14.40, but has to give weight to the highly-rated Lodge Lane (Vic Dartnall/ Christian Williams).

The 2 1/2 mile novice handicap chase at 15.50 also has some good entries, including top-weight Oracle des Mottes (Paul Nicholls/ Nick Scholfield) who is chasing a hat-trick but has to give weight to Buck the Legend (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ David England) and Pistol Desbois (Sue Alner/ Robert Walford), which will not be easy. At Scottish Kelso, Quicuyo (Peter Monteith/ Ryan Mania), an own brother to Quijano, is an interesting runner in the beginners chase at 14.50. He got bogged down in the mud last time, and on this slightly better ground, might surprise the likely hot favourite Naiad du Misselot (Ferdy Murphy/ Graham Lee). Monteith also saddles two German-breds in the handicap hurdle at 15.25, Sinatas (Seamus Durack) and Tiger King (Ryan Mania), but this is a very open race with 18 declared runners.