N.H. racing at Market Rasen, Towcester and Warwick

With the Cheltenham festival starting on Tuesday, there is no point in expecting high-class jumping races today, and the best race in the U.K. is the Crudwell Cup, a handicap chase over 3 miles 5 furlongs at 17.30 CET at Warwick, in which horses with good recent form are conspicuous by their absence. Rimsky (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ David England) and Supreme Keano (Jonjo O´Neill/ Richard McLernon) have at least been placed a few times; we also like the look of Venetia Williams´ Alexanderthegreat, who has not won for 3 years but is now on a very lenient rating. However it is a bit worrying to see stable jockey Aidan Coleman down to ride, as he also has several mounts at Towcester. Also at Warwick, Philip Hobbs´ in form stable can land a double with Present to You in the novice hurdle at 15.30 and Calusa Crystal in the mares novice chase at 16.00, while Richard Johnson, who rides them both, can round off a good day by also taking the handícap hurdle at 17.00 on Alison Thor pe´s easy last-time-out winner Pearl.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Blinded Bythelight - Nono Le Sage - Kirkhammerton
2. Race: Barafundle - Double Pride - Present To You
3. Race: Calusa Crystal - Tot Of The Knar - Daraz Rose
4. Race: War Footing - Celian - Quazy De Joie
5. Race: Share Option - Pearl - Willandrich
6. Race: Rimsky - Supreme Keano - Ballygalley Bob
7. Race: Cinderella Rose - Setter`S Princess - The Hon Tara




Two ex-German runners who can possibly make up for past disappointments at Towcester are Ostland (Charlie Longsdon/ Felix de Giles) in the handicap hurdle at 16.20 and Early Wings (Caroline Bailey/ Andrew Thornton) in the handicap chase half an hour later. The former, who was after all runner-up in the German Derby two years ago, ran really badly last time, but the drying ground should be in his favour and he is given another chance today. The latter has yet to win in 22 British starts, but faces weak opposition and must surely be capable of winning soon off this mark.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Circus Of Dreams - Samurai Way - Mister Watzisname
2. Race: Evella - Cuckoo Lane - Dermatologiste
3. Race: Olympian - Akarshan - Crouch End Flyer
4. Race: Sailor`S Sovereign - Man Of The Moment - Woodlands Genpower
5. Race: Silver Snitch - Edgevine - Dolans Bay
6. Race: Fundamentalist - Va Vavoom - Master Billy




At Market Rasen, Denis O´Regan looks the jockey to follow. He should certainly win the novice hurdle at 15.40 on the unbeaten Malakai for Howard Johnson, and has a good chance in the handicap chase at 18.10 on Tom George´s Overlaw. The 3 mile handicap hurdle at 16.10 looks more tricky; both O´Regan´ s mount Key Time and top-weight Rayshan (Rose Dobbin/ Keith Renwick) have good chances on their best form but are coming off long breaks, which might leave the way open for Tarabaloo (Alan Swinbank/ Brian Hughes).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Ban Uisce - Red Onion - Tide Slider
2. Race: Malakai - Sergeant Pink - King In Waiting
3. Race: Omix D`Or - King Of Castile - Cross Compliance
4. Race: Just Playfull - Red Dynamite - Bold Punt
5. Race: Tarabaloo - Key Time - Ballyvesey
6. Race: Fahrisee - Shayaza - Cloudy Spirit
7. Race: Overlaw - Maurisca - Glimmer Of Light