Plumpton (N.H.) and Kempton (a.w.)

Today´s Irish meeting at Naas has been abandoned, leaving only two modest fixtures in the U.K. - over jumps at Plumpton (where a further inspection is due) and on the all-weather at Kempton. Assuming Plumpton goes ahead, Nicky Henderson can start off by winning the first two races, the novice hurdle at 13.50 CET with Ranjobaie (Tony McCoy) and the novice chase half an hour later with Miss Sarenne (Andrew Tinkler) - however neither are bombproof. The former started at 5-2 on last time at Leicester and shocked his supporters by falling at the last with the race at his mercy; his main opponent is Notus de la Tour (David Pipe/ Johnny Farrelly), making his British debut after an easy win at Auteuil last time. The latter is well treated at the weights, but has also been beaten twice at odds-on. She also carries JP McManus´second colours, with McCoy riding Alan King´s Franchoek, who looked so promising two years go but has been a big disappointment since.

Most valuable race at Plumpton is the Sussex National over 3 miles 5 furlongs at 15.20. This looks wide open with 13 runners, most of them coming here on good form. We fncoed io-weight Temoin (Richr Phillips/ Wayne Hutchonson) for Sandpws n big handop yestrday, but do not think he will act so wll here. Likelier winners seem to be the much improved Master Overseer (Pipe/ Farrelly), Pipo de Re (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) and Tarquinius (Charlie Mann/ Noel Fehily).

At Kempton, the two best races are the class 4 handicaps over 1 1/2 miles at 16.35 and 6 furlongs at 17.05. The lightly-raced CD winner Tripitaka (Michael Jarvis/ Neil Callan) will probably start favourite for the former, but it looks very tricky; ex-Argentinian Free Tussy (Gary Moore/ Fergus Sweeney) is moving up in distance but is in great form, while Maslak (Paul Hiatt/ Chris Catlin) was just touched off last time after hitting the front too early.