Southwell (a.w.) and Warwick

Once again, very poor racing in the U.K. and Ireland today, and like yesterday, the best races are run on the all-weather, this time at Southwell. The 5 furlongs handicap at 17.20 CET is the top race here and looks very difficult, with all 14 runners holding some sort of a chance. Guto (Bill Ratcliffe/ Kelly Harrison) has won 3 of his last 4 stars, but is moving up in grade and meets tougher opposition now. Pawan (Ann Stokell) is an absolute CD specialist, who can never be left out of calculations, but the most reliable performers could be Ocean Blaze (Rod Millman/ Chris Catlin), going for a hat-trick, and consistent Rebel Duke (Ollie Pears/ Tony Hamilton). Chris Catlin also has a chance on John Harris´ Ours in the equally tricky mile handicap at 16.20, but the lightly-weighted 3yo´s Allformary (Brian Smart/ Tom Eaves) and Swiss Art (Ruth Carr/ Silvestre de Sousa) look the two likeliest candidates here. Sir Mark Prescott has placed Valid Point brilliantly to win 6 successive races and he can score again under Stephen Donohoe in the 3yo handicap over 1 1/2 miles at 17.50.

At Warwick, Landowner (Saeed bin Suroor/ Ahmed Ajtebi) can continue Godolphin´s good run by taking the 3yo maiden at 16.10, where Music Maestro (Barry and Michael Hills) and Viking Dancer (Andrew Balding/ David Probert) look the main dangers. The most interesting runner on the card is Spanish Conquest (Philip Hobbs/ Jamie Spencer) in the staying handicap at 18.10. He has not run on the flat for a year, but won 3 hurdles races in the spring, and Hobbs is always dangerous with his flat runners, especially when a top jockey is booked. Hawridge King (Wilf Kittow/ James Millman), who has been running in better company, and consistent Mulcar (Clive Cox/ Ian Mongan) are the main threats. Ex- German Artreju (Peter Butler, Miss K. Loftus) has been dropped to a very lenient mark for the amateur riders handicap at 18.40. He has run well for this rider before and could spring a surprise at a big price.