N.H. racing Ayr, Ludlow and Clonmel (Ireland)

Three jumps meetings this afternoon, and at Clonmel Ruby Walsh can continue his amazing winning run with Cru, who fell last time out when looking the probable winner, in the mares beginners chase at 17.35 CET, and Captain Conflict in the beginners chase at 18.35, both for trainer Willie Mullins, and he also has a good chance of winning the maiden hurdle at 16.30 on LP Cusack´s Majestic Oak. Nicky Henderson is another trainer in good form and can land a double at Ludlow in the handicap hurdle at 16.05 with Quarl Ego (Tony McCoy) and the German-bred Fairyland (Felix de Giles) in the mares novice hurdle at 17.10. The latter looks a good thing after her easy win at Doncaser last time following four second places in a row, while the former is more speculative, having his first run in a handicap after running three times unplaced and always well beaten in novice hurdles, but the opposition does not look that great.

At Ayr there are arre some very small fields, but Donald McCain looks the trainer to follow here. He can take the handicap chase at 15.20 with Vicario (Paul Benson) and the novice hurdle half an hour later with Ernst Blofeld (Jason Maguire), while later on his runners Netherley (Maguire) in the beginners chase at 16.25 and Comhla ri Coig (Benson) in the novice hurdle half an hour later face strong opposition from two Howard Johnson/ Denis O´Regan runners, Bleak House and Woody Waller respectively. For those looking for an each-way bet at a decent price, we recommend German-bred Solis (Peter Monteith/ Graham Lee) in the 2 miles handicap hurdle at 17.30, who has been dropped by the handicapper to a decent mark.