Today´s racing in the UK and Ireland

The best race in England today is the 2 3/4 mile handicap hurdle at 16.00 CET in Newton Abbot. This is quite a valuable event and has attracted a strong field; no fewer than 7 of the 16 runners have won their last two races (or more). 3 of them are owned by JP McManus, and his retained jockey Tony McCoy has chosen to partner Night Cru, trained by Jonjo O´Neill, in preference to stablemate Englishtown (Noel Fehily) and top-weight Benetwood (Vic Dartnall/ Robbie McLernon), which is a tip in itself. In a very open race, the main dangers could be Corum (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) and Irish raider Dirar (Gordon Elliott/ Seamus Durack). An Irish traider also has chances in Musselburgh´s top race, a 5 furlongs handicap at 17.20; that is Tom McCourt´s Tornadodancer (Freddie Tylicki), has shoulders top-weight here but has been competing in better events. Main threat is rejuvenated 9yo Raccoon (Ruth Carr/ Peter Mcdonald), who has won his last 2 races, both over this CD; runner-ups Hypn osis (Neil Wilson/ Tony Hamilton) and Fivefootnumberone (John Quinn/ Graham Gibbons) reoppose on slightly better terms today. Th main event at Folkestone is a fillies handicap over 10 furlongs at 16.40. For the money on offer this is a very weak race, and Godolphin´s top-weight Assabiyya (Ted Durcan), an easy winner of a Windsor maiden on her only outing so far, may well outclass this opposition. There has been more bad weather in Ireland this week and Ballinrobe´s fixture has been abandoned. However Cork´s mixed meeting goes ahead after an inspection this morning. Raise your Heart (Joanna Morgan/ Berry Geraghty) should win the best jumps race, a 2 1/4 mile hurdle at 15.55, and Just for Mary (David Loughnane/ Rory Cleary) looks the likeliest winner of the 6 furlongs handocap at 18.25.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Mission Control - Tiger O`Toole - Occasionally Yours
2. Race: Just Amazing - King Troy - Mhilu
3. Race: Dirar - Corum - Benetwood
4. Race: Charles Street - Classic Clover - Skipper`S Lad
5. Race: Sagredo - Sadler`S Star - Equity Release
6. Race: Ghizao - Danimix - Yorkshire Knight
7. Race: Pure Faith - Powerfullbeat - Lady Wyndham