5 meetings this evening

A very busy evening, with flat racing in the U.K. at Chepstow and Newcastle and jumping at Stratford, while there is a good card at Leopardstown as well as a mixed meeting at Tramore, both in Ireland. Pride of place goes to the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes over 1 1/2 miles at 20.25 CET at Leopardstown. The most likely winner here is Mourayan (John Oxx/ Mick Kinane), last time third in the Irish Derby and being aimed at the St. Leger. The older horses Profound Beauty (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) and Shreyas (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning), both of whom have won their last 2 races, look the main dangers. At Tramore, German-bred Dubai King (BP Galvin/ RJ Molloy), a very easy winner last time out, can follow up in the 2 miles handicap chase at 20.15.

Two German-breds who might surprise at a big price in Britain are Sagunt (Sean Curran/ Warren Marston) in the novice hurdle at 18.40 at Stratford and Santiago Atitlan (Peter Monteith/ Tony Hamilton) in the mile handicap at 20.00 at Newcastle. The former was well beaten in his only run over hurdles, but that was almost 2 years ago, and in the meantime he is good form on the flat, having won 3 times already this year. The latter was runner-up in the Goldene Peitsche 2 years ago, but has run disastrously on his 4 starts in 2009. He is now down to a ridiculous rating and will encounter his favoured fast ground. At Chepstow we like the look of Poppets Lovein (Andy Haynes/ Robert Havlin), a half-sister to Overdose, in a tricky maiden race over 7 furlongs at 20.20.