N.H. racing at Exeter, Ludlow and Clonmel (Ireland)

Some quite small fields today, and only 5 turn out for Exeter´s main event, a graduation chase at 15.50 CET. In theory this should be won by Cornas (Nick Williams/ Daryl Jacob), who is easily best at the weights, but Pasco (Paul Nicholls/ Tony McCoy) could prove troublesome. There could be a German-bred winner here, as both Princess Flame (Brendan Powell/ Jimmy McCarthy) and Classic Dream (Sean Curran/ Alan Frerman) have chances in a very open handicap hurdle at 14.50. Also at Exeter, Nicky Henderson can land a double with Lady Rhinestone and Carole´ s Legacy at 14.20 and 16.20 respectively, but it is significant that his stable jockey Barry Beraghty goes to Ludlow to ride the promising Topsham Belle in the mares novice hurdle at 16.10, where she has multiple bumper winner Banjaxed Girl (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Paddy Brennan) to beat. Also at Ludlow, we expect the much improved The Snail (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney) to win his fourth successive race at 14.10. Ruby Walsh, who seems to fly across the Irish Sea every day at the moment, looks the jockey to follow at Clonmel. He can land a double for Willie Mullins with Apt Approach at 15.05 and Kempes half an hour later, both smart hurdlers going for their first success over fences, and he can round off a good day by winning the handicap chase at 16.05 on his father´s Seabass.