three N.H. meetings today

no flat racing in the U.K. today, but jumps racing at Ascot, Stratford and Wincanton, with good to firm going at all 3 tracks. The classiest racing comes from Ascot, where the 4yo handicap hurdle at 16.10 CET looks especially tricky. Rougham (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) has the best form, but faces a tough task under top weight, while German-bred Fin Vin de Leu (Charlie Mann/ Denis O´Regan - if he is fit to ride after a fall yesterday) should appreciate this better going, but the interesting one here is Souter Point (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty), whose team remains in tremendous form (3 winners at Ayr yesterday) and was quite useful on the flat; he has not shown much over sticks so far, but is nicely handicapped and is another one who should go well on the ground. The going could also decide the outcome of the veterans handicap chase at 17.20; Boweleaze (Sue Alner/ Daryl Jacob) likes it fast, but so does the German-bred Pretty Star (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman), a son of Lando, who had now dropped to a very nice weight after some poor performances on unsuitable ground.
Tony McCoy, out of luck yesterday, is still hoping to reach 200 winners for the season, which ends on Saturday. He is currently on 194, but will miss most of next week, as he is riding in Ireland. He should pick up some points at Stratford today, where Black Jack Blues, in the novice hurdle at 15.20, and Stir on the Sea in the mares handicap hurdle at 17.05, both trained by Rebecca Curtis, have good chances, as do Andy Turnell´s Kew Jumper at 16.30 and Peter Bowen´s Mumbles Pier at 18.15. The latter has been off since October, but was a CD winner with McCoy up in September on fast ground.
Paul Nicholls rarely leaves his local track at Wincanton without a winner, and his 3 runners today all have good prospects: Rebel du Maquis (Ryan Mahon), in the novice hurdle at 15.10, Al Amaan in the novice hurdle at 17.30, and Watergate at 18.05, the last two partnered by Nock Scholfield. The most interesting race here is the handicap chase at 16.55. Top-weight King Brex (Charlie Mann/ Robert Thornton) is in good form, but may be pushed to concede the weight to last-time-out CD winner Chilbury Hill (Kevin Bishop/ Johnny Farrelly). However the one we really like is Kervriou (Andrew Balding/ Felix de Giles); Balding does well with his few N.H. runners, and this one, who missed the whole of the winter, is at his best at this time of year.

Betting forecast Ascot:
1. Race: Theologist - Hellfire Club - Don`T Tell Nina
2. Race: You`Re The Top - King Edmund - I Have Dreamed
3. Race: Rougham - Souter Point - Blazing Buck
4. Race: Fresh Air And Fun - Soulard - Ouste
5. Race: Knowhere - Bowleaze - Magic Sky
6. Race: Mith Hill - Volador - Busker Royal
7. Race: Bob Hall - Tikram - Loita Hills