N.H. racing at Ludlow, Taunton and Thurles (Ireland)

Three tracks stage jumps racing today, and easily the best race is the Grade Two novice hurdle at 16.25 CET at Thurles, with several of the best Irish novices involved. Caim Hill (Philip Fenton/ Mr. BT O´Connell) has won his last five races, but has to give weight to much hotter opposition now, which will not be easy. Willie Mullins has such a strong string of novice hurdlers that his Quiscover (Emmet Mullins), who has won his last 3, looks the one to beat, but Donnas Palm (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry) and Clan Tara (Paul Nolan/ Davy Russell) also have smart form, amd the winner here will certainly be a good one. Carthalawn (Charlie Byrnes/ Davy Russell) beat some really smart opposition with authority at Naas on Sunday and this form should make him a near certainty for the Cashel Chase at 15.25. At Ludlow, the Forbra Gold Cup a handicap chase over 3 miles at 16.50, is no longer the hot race it used to be, and gives the German-bred CD winner Pretty Star the chance to get back o n the winning trail.

Any improvement in the going will help his chances, as it will also for another German-bred Walamo (Tim Vaughan/ Seamus Durac) in the novice handicap hurdle at 16.20. Nicky Hemderson´s Eradicate (Barry Geraghty) started at odds-on before running out an easy winner of his hurdles debut and is likely to be at very short odds again to complete the double at 18.20.Paul Nicholls is usually the trainer to follow at Taunton, and that couold be the case again today. He could take the three novice hurdles, all over different distances, at 15.30, 16.30 and 17.30 respectively with Special Occasion (Christian Williams), Gullible Gordon (Harry Skelton) and Qozak (Sam
Thomas).