Musselburgh, Towcester and Navan (Ireland)

Apart from Aintree, there is N.H. racing today at Musselburgh and Towcester, as well as a good card at Navan in Ireland where the main event is the Grade Two novice hurdle at 13.55 CET. Only 6 runners, but 3 of them have won their last 2 races, and clear top-rated is Judge Roy Bean, who can continue the good run of trainer Edward O´Grady and jockey Andrew McNamara. Otherwise there are huge fields here, and the main supporting feature is the Troytown Chase, a valuable handicap, in which Treacle (Tom Taaffe/ John Cullen), winner of the Munster National last time, and Operation Houdini (Danny Fitzgerald/ Niall Madden), who trotted up over hurdles last time, look likely contenders. Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh have several decent chances in the other events, notably with Sports Line in the beginners chase at 16.05, while the trainer can also win the listed mares bumper with Killvitagh, partnered by son Paddy. There are also several Irish runners at the Scottish track at Musselbu rgh, and it could be interesting that Jessica Harrington sends her debutant Manuels Sister (Dougie Costello) to contest the bumper at 16.40. It is of course impossible to say how good she might be, but she is out of German Group winner Anno Luce. David Pipe send his stable jockey Ton Scudamore to a low-level meeting at Towcester and they certainly have each-way chances in the handicap chases at 14.35 with Master Overseer and at 16.20 with Mayeul.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Annie May - Amanda Carter - Just For Jean
2. Race: Still At Lunch - Irish Poli - Border Tale
3. Race: Tazbar - Logans Run - Strobe
4. Race: Mesbaah - Los Nadis - Sea Storm
5. Race: Always Bold - Saveiro - Ergo
6. Race: River Shanakill - Super Baby - Categorical
7. Race: Eastern Supreme - Bachelor Lad - That`S All