Plumpton, Stratford and Taunton

Three N.H. meetings today, and while obviously there are no stars to be seen just before the start of Cheltenham, all the leading trainers and jockeys are in action. The two best horses on view are probably the 4yo hurdlers Silk Hall (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) and Pepite de Soleil (Paul Nicholls/ Harry Skelton), who clash at 15.10 CET at Stratford. Both of them won well in decent company last time out and they should have the race to themselves. In fact, did their stables not have even stronger Triumph contestants in the yard, they would under normal circumstances also be Cheltenham-bound. Red Scally (MichaelO´Hare/ IJ McCarthy) was an easy winner at Ayr on Friday and, with a very low weight, can go in again in the handicap chase at 16.40 here, while Kingscape (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) is an interesting runner in the handicap hurdle at 17.10.His recent form is totally meaningless, but trainer and jockey could hardly be in better form, so that another winner for JP McMan us is a definite possibility.

Nicholls also has runners at Taunton, where Thundering Star (Sam Thomas) should win the novice hurdle at 16.20; Soulard (John Spearing/ Andrew Thornton) looks the only danger. Of several German-bred runners in action today, El Dancer (Lucy Wadham/ Dominic Elsworth) has easiy the best chance. He is likely to start at odds-on in the novice hurdle at 16.00 at Plumpton. Another German-bred who could go well here is Wiesenfürst (Gary and Jamie Moore) in the handicap hurdle at 17.00. He ran much better than the placings suggest when 9th of 16 at Fontwell last time, but faces a potential hotpot here in Cross Kennon (Jennie Candlish/ Anthony O´Keeffe), who scored by 22 lengths at Lingfield last Thursday and has only the fixed 7 lbs penalty to carry.