The lull before the storm

Today´s British racing is very much the lull before the storm, with all concentration now fixed on the Cheltenham Festival starting tomorrow. However Nicky Henderson, who has several fancied runners at the Festival, can start off the week on a winning note by landing an across-the-card treble in the opening races at Plumpton at 15.00 CET, Stratford at 15.10 and at Taunton at 15.20 with Proud Pretense (Felix de Giles), Super Kenny (Barry Geraghty) and Onemix (David Bass) respectively. 4yo Super Kenny could be the most interesting of these, as he was until recently regarded as one of the stable´s main Triumph Hurdle hopes. Henderson can also land a four-timer with Bonikos (Geraghty) in the beginners chase at 15.40 at Stratford.

Several ex-German horses running today, and we give Kyoto (Nigel Hawke/ Charlie Huxley) an each-way chance in the novice handicap hurdle at 17.20 at Taunton, as well as Sadlers Star (Alan King/ Wayne Hutchinson) and Urban Tiger (Tim Vaughan/ Tom O´Brien), who both run in the selling hurdle at 16.10 at Stratford.

Best bet of the day is Fix the Rib (Gary and Jamie Moore) in the novice hurdle at 16.20 at Taunton; a top chaser, and third to Master Minded last time, he is not so good over sticks but should still be able to beat this modest opposition.