Ffos Las, Stratford and Lingfield

very modest fare at all 3 U.K. meetings today - over jumps at Ffos Las and Stratford and on the all-weather at Lingfield. If there are any decent performers on view today it can only be in the first race at 15.10 CET at Lingfield, a maiden event over a mile for 3yo´s with several runners from top stables engaged, notably Al Farahidi (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning) and Danehill Sunset (Barry and Michael Hills) - both debutants - and Jawal (Clive Brittain/ Seb Sanders) and Merrqaad (Marcus Tregoning/ William Buick), who both finished third on their only start so far.

This is a race to watch, but not necessarily to bet on. There are also two handicaps for 3yo´s here. Over 1 1/2 miles at 18.00 there are only 5 runners, most of them trying this trip for the first time. Beyond (Jeremy Noseda/ George Baker) won nicely here last time over 10 furlongs and as a son of Galileo should be able to handle the extra distance. By contrast, the race at 18.30 is over the minimum distance of 5 furlongs. The top-weights Dower Glen (Neil Wilson/ Jim Crowley) and Exceed Power (David Simcock/ Hayley Turner) met recently at Wolverhampton, where the latter came out on top; he is now 3 lbs worse off so there should be little in it this time.

At Ffos Las, trainer Rebecca Curtis and Tony McCoy, who teamed up successfully at Bangor last week, can land a double with Black Jack Blues in the opening novice hurdle at 15.20 and Sir Bere in the bumper at 18.40, both good winners last time out. McCoy can also take the novice chase at 17.00 on German-bred Bergo, who has won his last 4 races; however they were all soft races and today´s opposition (although there are only 3 of them) looks much tougher. Keepholdin (Neil Mulholland/ Richard Johnson) was an easy winner last week at Hereford and can follow up under a penalty in the handicap hurdle at 15.50.

if racing goes ahead at Stratford (there is an inspection after overnight frost), then we expect to Rate of Knots (Jonjo O´Neill/ Richard McLernon) to defy top-weight in the mares handicap chase at 16.05, as this looks a very poor race. Marigold Way (Ron Hodges/ Ian Popham) is at least consistent and could run into the money off a light weight. German-bred The Lemonpie (Milton Harris/ Charlie Poste) was not disgraced on his hurdling debut and has place chances in the maiden hurdle here at 15.00; however the highly-rated Souter Point (Nicky Henderson/ Felix de Giles) looks the one to beat here.