Naas (Ireland) and Wolverhampton (a.w.)

Easily the best racing in Britain and Ireland today comes from Naas, where the abandoned meeting from last Saturday is being repeated. Main event is the Grade Two novice chase at 15.05 CET, in which there are unfortunately only 4 runners, with Alpha Ridge (Paul Nolan/ Ruby Walsh) and Oscar Looby (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry) clearly holding the best chances. There are also 4 runners in the main supporting feature, a listed hurdle race at14,35, in which Meade saddles two runners, Muirhead (Paul Carberry) and the German-bred Wild Passion. The latter has plenty of ability, but has only run once in the past 3 years, so Muirhead, an outsider for the Champion Hurdle, is a confident selection.

At Wolverhampton the racing is very modest. The "best" race is the staying handicap at 16.20, where any of the 6 runners could win; we expect to see bottom-weight Calculating (Mark Usher/ David Probert), very consistent on th all-weather, finish close up. The fillies handicap half an hour later over 7 furlongs features two hat-trick seeekrs, top-weight Diapason (Tom Dascombe/ Richard Kingscote) and Goodbye Cash (David Evans/ Andrew Heffernan), of whom the former is preferred. Priti Fabulous, whose trainer Alan McCabe and jockey Declan Cannon are in good form, could run well here at at big price. Our best bet of the day is Jan Mayen (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning), who was only narrowly beaten on his debut despite running green, and can now take the maiden race over 8 1/2 furlongs at 17.20.