Musselburgh, Fontwell and Southwell

Racing goes ahead everywhere today, a pleasant surprise in view of last week´s bad weather and the expectation of more to come. Easily the best card is at Musselburgh and the Scottish track had attracted runners from far and wide, including such top southern English trainers as Nicky Henderson and Philip Hobbs.Top race is the 4yo hurdle at 15.30, in which Henderson saddles Giorgio Quercus (Barry Geraghty), whi looked very promising in the autumn but has now disappointed a couple of times. The unbeaten West with the Wind (Tom Tate/ Keith Mercer) -out of a German mare- and the smart Nine Stories (Howard Johnson/ Denis O´Regan) will be two tough nuts to crack. It could be a good day for German-breds, and First Stream (Howard Johnson/ O`Regan) can set the ball rolling in the maiden hurdle at 14.30 CET. This previous group race performer for Mario Hofer is having his first run for new connections and is making his hurdles debut, but if he jumps round, should surely outclass this o pposition. Los Nadis (Peter Monteith/ Geraghty) has each-way possibilities in the valuable handicap hurdle at 16.30, but this is a very tough race, in which Hibiki (Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) and Mohayer (Donald McCain/ Jasom Maguire) are just two of several with chances. Henderson also saddles Bellvano (JP Magnier) in the bumper at 17.30, who has an excellent German pedigree and should also run well. At Fontwell, where the going will be very heavy, all interest will be centred on Tony McCoy´s attempt finally to ride his 3,000 th winner. It has so far been a frustrating period for the champion jockey, but he has two chances today and can win on both to brng up the magic 3,000: Burton Port for Nicky Henderson in the novice hurdle at 15.10 and Blue Teal for Henrietta Knight in the handicap hurdle at 17.10. German-bred Wildbach is probably the best horse in the large field for the selling hurdle at 16.10, but has a a huge weight to carry and on these terms Peut Etre Sivola (David Pipe/ Danny Cook) can perhaps be preferred. The hunter chase season starts today in Britain, and the race at 16.40 should be dominated by Limerick Boy (Venetia Williams/ Walter Biddick) - another ex-German - and Ofarel d´Airy (Paul Nicholls/ Oliver Greenall), both of whom are coming off a long break. Toulaman (Gary Moore/ Eamonn Dehdashti) in the bumper at 17.40 is another German-bred with a good chance, and as a son of Black Sam Bellamy shoud handle the conditions. The all-weather meeting at Southwell is of very little interest, but West End Lane (Steve Bowing/ Dane O´Neill) looks the best bet on the card. An easy winner this CD 12 days ago, he can follow up in the mile handicap at 14.30 with only 6 lbs more.