Catterick, Fairyhouse and Plumpton

Three jumps fixtures this afternoon, and punters are advised to be careful at Fairyhouse, where the ground is desperate and there are maximum fields in 7 of the 8 races. The most interesting runner here is Zaarito (Colm Murphy/ MM O´Connor), a top bumper horse last season, who makes his hurdling debut in the maiden race at 14.00 CET. Another likely short-priced favourite is Moskova (Paul Nolan/ Davy Russell) in the mares novice chase, also over 2 miles, at 15.35; She has already won this year on the flat and over hurdles and recently made a good debut over fences. The fields are much smaller at Plumpton, with only 4 runners in the beginners chae over 2 1/2 miles at 14.05. Sovereign King (Alan King/Robert Thornton) unseated his jockey last time, but if he jumps round safely, may just prove too strong for Olmeto Collonges (Henrietta Knight/ Paul Moloney) and Phardessa (Richard Phillips/ Sean Quinlan). The most interesting runner at Plumptpn is Little Shilling (Tim Vaughan/ Robb ie Killoran), who has already scored 4 times - all over hurdles - in the past fortnight but now goes over fences at 16.10. He can win again, but it will not be as easy as his other recent successes. German-bred Wildbach has a good each-way chance in the claiming hurdle at 15.40. If there is a star on view today at the British meetings, it can only be Nine Stories (Howard Johnson/ Denis O´Regan), who appears to have a simple chance in the 3yo novice hurdle at 14.50 at Catterick. In the handicap chase there at 15.50, also over 2 miles, 12yo course specialist Stormy Beech (Bob and Kenny Johnson) attempts to follow up his last win´s Sedgefield victory, but our fancy here is Osomagic (Sue Smith/ Shane Byrne), who has finished 6th in all his 3 races this season, but in better company.