N.H. racing at Ludlow and Taunton

Winners will be hard to find today at Ludlow, where there are some quite large fields and most races look very competitive. We hope to see Guydus (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) run well after his easy last-time-out victory in the novice handicap hurdle at 16.30 CET, and the same team have a chance with Quartz de Thaix in the novice chase half an hour earlier. Main event here is the Forbra Gold Cup, a handicap chase over 3 miles at 17.00.

Kilcrea Asia (Tom George/ Sam Thomas) won this last year and after some below par performamces is back on the same handicap mark. Carrickmines (Dr. Newland/ Andrew Glassonbury) is moving up in grade and facing much tougher opposition than when winning last time over this CD, but could still play a leading role with his very light weight.

It all looks much easier at Taunton, where the rule over the years is to back everything saddled by Paul Nicholls, especially when Ruby Walsh is riding. They have three good chances today, with Earth Planet in the beginners chase at 15.20, Pistolet Noir in the novice hurdle at 16.50 and King´s Legacy who makes his hurdles debut and hour later. Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson may have to play second fiddle to Pistolet Noir with Duke of Lucca, but should in any case take the novice hurdle at 15.50 with Voramar Two, who is penalised for an easy CD win but meets very feeble opponents today.