N.H. racing at Carlisle, Newbury and Sedgefield

3 jumps meetings this afternoon, but only Newbury offers sport at a decent level, and most of the top trainers are in action there, notably Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls, who go head to head in the opening maiden hurdle at 14.50 CET with Anquetta (Barry Geraghty), runner-up on his debut over sticks, and Pendower (Ruby Walsh), winner of his only start, a bumper at Newton Abbot last summer. Both could well go on to much better things, Anquetta is narrowly given the vote today. The 3 miles handicap chase at 16.30 is an open affair. Polyfast (Henderson/ Geraghty) was a disappointing favourite last time, but still cannot be ignored, and the same goes for top-weight Den of Iniquity (Warren Greatrex/ Wayne Hutchinson), who has failed to complete the last twice. Ex-German Swordsman (Charlie Gordon/ Colin Bolger) has not run for a while, so we are narrowing our choice to Arturo Uno (Nigel Twiston-Davis/ Paddy Brennan) and last-time-out winner Dancing Mist (Vic Dartnall/ Tom O´Bri en).

There are small fields at Sedgefield and likely to be several odds-on favourites. Into this category come Howard Johnson´s pair Silent Cliche (Barry Hughes) in the novice hurdle at 15.30 and Pemberton (JP O´Farrell) in the beginners chase at 17.15, as well as Lord Villez (Ferdy Murphy/ Graham Lee) in the novice hurdle at 16.40. All 3 should win but are not really good betting propositions at the likely odds.

The card at Carlisle is also very modest. Newman des Plages (Mike Todhunter/ James Reveley) is no star, but is in good form and is also a CD winner; he can defy top-weight in the handicap hurdle at 16.20. Samidzat (Dianne Sayer/ Ryan Mania) won over this CD only last Sunday and can complete a quick double under a penalty in the novices handicap at 17.30, while Jimmy Bond (Kate Walton/ Richard McGrath) is another recent winner who can go in again at 18.05.