4 flat meetings today

the flat season is slowly getting into swing and today there is flat racing at Nottingham and Catterick on turf, and Lingfield and Kempton (in the evening) on the all-weather. Top event is the listed race over 1 13/4 miles at 16.50 CET at Nottingham. Opinion Poll (Michael Jarvis/ Frankie Dettori) is likely to start favourite, but the stable has not really hit form yet, so we prefer Tastahil (Barry and Richard Hills), a genuine group race performer, and especially Drill Sergeant (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning), very consistent last season although he won only once - the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot. Frankie Dettori also has two interesting rides for trainer Steve Gollings here - German-bred Kaballero in the opening mile handicap at 14.50 and Kyladdie, top-weight in the 3yo handicap over 5 furlongs at 16.20.
Best race at Catterick is the 1 1/2 mile handicap at 16.10, in which Ella (Alan Swinbank/ Robert Winszpn) has an obvious chance. She was 3rd of 23 last time in the Doncaster November Handicap, and she softer the ground the better. Mark Johnston, who has runners all over today, supplies the main danger in the shape of top-weight Becausewecan (Greg Fairley), who is fit from the all-weather.
Johnston can also score at Lingfield with Concurrence in the 3yo maiden at 15.00 - Sir Michael Stoute´s Cabal with Ryan Moore the obvious danger here - and Honest Broker in the 3yo handicap at 17.00, a CD winner last time. Concurrence is certainly bred in the purple- her dam Balanchine won the Irish Derby.
At Kempton this evening, Andrew Balding´s Swindler (Jimmy Fortune) can take the 11 furlongs maiden at 19.00. His only start last season was in a group race, and although well beaten, he obviously faces much easier opposition now. The mile handicap for 3yo fillies at 20.00 looks quite tricky, but Gracious Melange (Marco Botti/ Kieren Fallon), who won her only start over this CD last December, could be good enough.

Betting forecast Lingfield:
1. Race: Cabal - Illustrious Prince - Concurrence
2. Race: Frequency - Togoaviking - Captain John Nixon
3. Race: Green Velvet - Waterloo Dock - Muktasb
4. Race: Sir Edwin Landseer - Lindoro - Mutamared
5. Race: Newbury Street - Honest Broker - Ginger Grey
6. Race: Red Hot Desert - Parc Des Princes - Mr Plod
7. Race: Sermons Mount - Ride A White Swan - Bold Diva
8. Race: Zeffirelli - Eager To Bow - Desert Pride