The day before Royal Ascot

With Royal Ascot, and its 5 days of magnificient racing, starting tomorrow, it is clear that few fireworks can be expected in Britain and Ireland today.The flat fixture this afternoon at Carlisle is very low key, with the 7 furlongs handicap for 3yo fillies at 17.15 CET the best event. Top-weight Arabian Pearl (Peter Chapple-Hyam/ Alan Munro) was an easy maiden winner last time but the handicapper has been quite severe, and we prefer Richard Fahey´s pair Darcey (Freddie Tylicki) and consistent Mo Mhuirnin; the latter has been placed on her last 7 starts, but it is not certain that stable jockey Paul Hanagan will be fit to ride.

The jumps card at Sedgefield is not much better, although numerous recent winners will be running, for example in the first race, a hurdle race for 3yo´s, the unbeaten Rupestrian (Tim Vaughan/ Richard Johnson) and Barizan (Evan Williams/ Tony McCoy); preference is for the latter, who receives 7 lbs from his main rival. Last-time-out winner Pilca (Malcolm Jefferson/ Phil Kinsella) can follow up in the handicap chase at 16.30. Later N. Irish trainer James Lambe and McCoy team up with two hat-trick-seekers, Breeze Out in the novice hurdle at 17.00 and Hunting Tower in the handicap hurdle half an hour later; however both have a lot of weight, and we prefer Grasscutter (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) and Newgat (Ruth Carr/ Oliver Williams) respectively.