Hereford (N.H.) and Wolverhampton (a.w.)

With Lingfield off, all we have left in the U.K. today are two relatively minor meetings at Hereford (N.H.) and Wolverhampton (a.w.). Best race at Hereford is the handicap hurdle over 3 1/4 miles at 15.50 CET and the star of the show here is clearly Little Shilling (Tim Vaughan/ Richard Killoran), who has won his last 6 races, all since mid-November and 5 of them with this jockey. It seems that he can act on any going and the further the distance, the better he runs. He has now been raised a total of 53 lbs (!) since his winning run began, but although today´s opposition is the strongest he has yet faced, he could stll defy the handicapper and score again. Main dangers would appear to be top-weight Officier de Reserve (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), Pennek (Alan King/ Robert Thornton), Kayf Aramis (Venetia Williams/ Sam Thomas) and ex-German Snake Charmer (Milton Harris/ Dave Crose), who beat admittedly weak opponents by 27 lengths last time out and also seems well suited by a r eal stamina test.

Regardless of how Pennek fares here, his trainer and jockey could still land a double in the two novice hurdles, with Parlesotho at 14.50 and Crakboumwiz half an hour later. At Wolverhampton, the class 4 handicap over 7 furlongs at 17.00 is the main event and looks very open. Top-weight Carnivore (David Barron/ Tom Eaves) was a good CD winner when last seen 5 weeks ago, while ex-Italian Secret Dubai (Marco Botti/ John Egan) appears well weighted; Strabinious King (Michael Wigham/ Franny Norton), third at Lingfield last Friday,and bottom-weight Red Cape (Rebecca Carr/Andrew Elliott) also have chances. Singleb (Gay Kelleway/ Jamie Spencer) can win the seller over 9 furlongs at 15.30, even though in theory he cannot give the weight to the higher-rated Prince Noel (Noel Wilsn/ Lee Enstone), while we go along with golden oldie Will He Wish (Steve Gollings/ Pat Cosgrave), although it will not be easy for the 13-y-o under top weight in the 9 furlongs handicap at 18.00.