N.H. racing at Doncaster, Ludlow and Fairyhouse (Ireland)

With temperatures rising, there should be no problems with today´s meetings over jumps, although there is still snow about in Scotland and N.Ireland, and plenty of rain is forecast for the rest of the week. Nicky Henderson and his stable jockey Barry Geraghty launch a strong attack on Doncaster´s fixture, with fancied runners in several races.

Although we expect Four Strong Winds (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) to prove too strong at the weights for their Lark´s Lad in the opening novice hurdle at 14.30 CET, they can score with Special Envoy in the beginners chase at 15.35, Park Lane in th 4yo hurdle at 16.10 and Prince du Beury in the handicap hurdle at 17.15 - though this is a tough race with a huge field. They also run Trabolgan in the veteran´s handicap chase over 3 miles at 16.40. These events, for 10yo´s and older, are always popular and there is a really strong field here. Apart from Tramolgan, who won the Hennessy in 2005 but has only run 3 times since, the top-weights Tamarinbleu ((David Pipe/ Danny Cook) and Mister McGoldrick (Sue Smth/ Paddy Brennan) have been running in top class events. Trabolgan make an encouraging return before Christmas and if he is anywhere his old form should win this, but we also like the German-bred Pretty Star (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman), although as a son of Lando
he would not want the ground to get any softer.

Another son of Lando who needs the rain to stay away is Ostland, who runs in the handicap hurdle at 16.30 the Ludlow. The runner-up in the 2008 German Derby runs for the first time in a handicap and seems very well treated. Nicky Henderson has runners here as well and supplies the main danger with Know the Law (Andrew Tinkler), although front-tunner Marodima (Rebecca Curtis/ Mr. A. Conlan) and consistent Novikov (David Evans/ Andrew Glassonbury) also have chances in an open race. Henderson´s best chance here is Great Reason (Tinkler), runner-up to Cheltenham fancy Mille Chief last time; he meets nothing of that calibre in the maiden hurdle here at 14.50.

Ruby Walsh is in action at Fairyhouse, where his best chance would appear to be Willie Mullins´ 12yo Clear Gold, top weight in the 2 mile handicap chase at 17.10. Our best bet here is Kimberlite King (Colm Murphy/ Matt O´Connor); repetition of the form he showed when runner-up in a huge field last time should be enough for him to win the beginners chase at 16.05.