Listed races at Kempton and Dundalk

The only two flat meetings today in Britain and Ireland are on the all-weather tracks at Kempton and Dundalk, both featuring listed races. At Kempton two of them, the Snowdrop Stakes for 4yo and older fillies and mares at 15.40 CET and the Easter Stakes for 3yo colts half an hour later, both over a mile. The latter race has attracted some smart performers, notably Captain Ramius (Simon Callaghan/ Jamie Spencer) and Saint Arch (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning, both unbeaten after 3 starts, as well as Sohcahtoa (Richard Hannon/ Ryan Moore) and Shampagne (Paul Cole/ Martin Dwyer), close 3rd and 5th over a furlong further here in the Kentucky Derby trial 24 days ago, with Markyg 10th. Hannon has an excellent record in this event, but our preference is for Saint Arch, and it is virtually certain that the winner will have to be group class to win this. The fillies race is quite tricky, as the runners have little all-weather experience. The exception is Smokey Rye (George Baker/ Dane O´ Neill), who has been on the go all winter, winning 3 of her last 5 races, and is the only runner to have been out this year; this gives her a clear fitness advantage, but on ratings she has a mountain to climb. Lightly-raced Tactful (Ralph Beckett/ Seb Sanders) and Scuffle (Roger Charlton/ Ryan Moore) both look capable of improvement, while German-bred Born Tobouggie (Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally) and Perfect Star (Clive Cox/ Adam Kirby) are also dangerous. Th main fatur at Dundalk is thr listd rfac for 3yo and up fillis and mafs at 18.00. This is run over 1 mile 3 furlongs, quit a big ask for the 3yo´s , but the winner may still come from this age-group, with the Aga Khan´s Timabiyra (John Oxx/ Mick Kinane) the likely favourite. Aidan O´Brien, not yet in top form, saddles Perfect Truth (Colm O´Donoghue), but it could be significant that stable jockey Johnnie Murtagh partners David Wachman´s well-bred Always Beautiful. Sh cost half a million dollars as a yearling and has been di sappointing so far, but obviously black type would be valuable.

Kempton - betting forecast:
1. Race: Extraterrestrial - Saltagioo - Titan Triumph
2. Race: Born Tobouggie - Perfect Star - Scuffle
3. Race: Sohcahtoa - Captain Ramius - Shampagne
4. Race: Al Muheer - Red Somerset - Pravda Street
5. Race: Royal Dignitary - Alfresco - Prince Of Thebes
6. Race: Mr Willis - Cyflymder - Efficiency
7. Race: Kavaloti - Wabbraan - Salute
8. Race: Formation - Viva Vettori - Casilda

Dundalk - betting forecast:
1. Race: Sioduil - Spring Horizon - Primalova
2. Race: Lilly Be - Cihangir - Liberty Island
3. Race: Romeo`S On Fire - Empirical Power - Soap Wars
4. Race: Daly - Imco Spirit - Lista Lightning
5. Race: Cochlear - Grand Admiral - Adare Manor
6. Race: Indiana Gal - Timabiyra - Perfect Truth
7. Race: Ain Jalout - Law Officer - Coolcullen Times
8. Race: Francisco Goya - Zarinski - Zafferana