Ffos Las, Newmarket and Thirsk

Today is the official opening of the new Welsh racecourse at Ffos Las, although two meetings (one on the flat, one over jumps) have already been held there, with the track receiving very positive notices. Today´s cards is all-jumping and the two main events are valuable handicaps with 18 runners each. The race at 16.55 CET is over hurdles. There is a strong Irish challenge here and Charlie Swan´ s Valain (Tony McCoy) and Gordon Elliott´s Grand Opera (Ruby Walsh) could be their best hopes. The handicap chase over 3 miles and 1 1/2 furlong at 17.25 has a lopsided look as classy Snoopy Loopy (Peter Bowen/ Seamus Durack), in the colours of track owner Dai Walters, has to give away lumps of weight. He is easily the best horse in the field, but whether he can concede 19 lbs to Hoo la Baloo (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh) and 31 lbs to Nostringsattached (Jonjo O´Neill/ Robbie McLernon) remains to be seen.

There is also flat racing this afternoon at Newmarket and Thirsk. The first 5 of the 8 races at Newmarket are for 2yo´s including 4 maidens with large fields. With several well-bred newcomers from top stables (Sir Michael Stoute/ Saeed bin Suroor, John Dunlop, Hannon, Haggas et al) these are races to watch rather than bet on. The best betting race is the 6 furlong handicap at 18.10 with 16 runners; this is wide open but Getcarter (Hannon/ Hughes) is in good form and can possibly complete a hat-trick. The stayers´ handicap at 17.05 also looks tricky, as likely favourite Merchant of Dubai (Alan Swinbank/ Robert Winston) is moving up in trip. Swinbank can also land the stayers´ handicap at 17.15 at Thirsk with Saga de Tercy (Neil Callan), runner-up at York last time and never yet out of the first two. An interesting runner here is our old friend Grudge (Ollie Pears/ JD O´Reilly) in the apprentices handicap over 5 furlongs at 17.45. He has twice been unlucky, but can get back on the winning trail today.