Wincanton today

Sam Thomas has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently, mainly due to his habit of falling off at the last fence. This has cost him the ride on Master Minded in Saturday´s Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown (for which Christian von der Recke´s Fiepes Shuffle is also an intended runner with Jamie Moore aboard). However he gets the chance today to rehabilitate himself by winning the first two races at Wincanton for trainers on whose horses he has fallen in the last couple of weeks: Pepite de Soleil in the 3yo hurdle at 14.20 for Paul Nicholls and Lightning Strike for Venetia Williams in the beginners chase half an hour later. Both are likely to start hot favourite and it must be hoped that he gets round safely. The class 3 handicap hurdle over 2 miles at 15.20 is the best betting race at Wincanton. This is a very open event, and Double the Trouble (Andrew Turnell/ Nick Scholfield), who ran well at Kepton last time, and Olympian (Gary and Jamie Moore), runner-up his ladt two starts, are zthe lkikely favourites, but the 3 German-breds in the field are also interesting: Classic Dream (Brendan Powell/ Timmy Murphy), Oldrik (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) and Allez Frank (AE Jones/ Wayne Kennedy). The handicap chase half an hour later over 3 1/4 miles is equally tricky; Midnight Gold (Peter Bowen/ Seamus Durack), Young Dancer (Vic Dartnall/ Christian Williams) and Maori Legend (Neil Mulholland/ Felix de Giles) are three of the more likely candidates.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Pepite de Soleil - Arrayan - Secret Dancer
2.Race: Lightning Strike - Tarotino - Scaramouche
3.Race: Double The Trouble - Quizzene - Dalaram
4.Race: Young Dancer - Wizard Of Edge - Midnight Gold
5.Race: Old Brigade - Wise Men Say - Hearty Dove
6.Race: Ping Pong Sivola - Mighty Moose - Ede`Iff