N.H. racing at Exeter, Fakenham and Ballinrobe (Ireland)

Small fields at Fakenham this afternoon, but bigger fields this evening at Exeter and especially in Ireland at Ballinrobe. The most interesting runner at Fakenham is Nicky Henderson´s Oedipe (Tony McCoy), a smart chaser who makes his belated hurdles debut at 16.20 CET. If he handles the smaller obstacles, he should no problem in disposing of this opposition, of whom penalised Talenti (Lawney Hill/ Christian Williams) looks the best.

In the novice chase half an hour later, we expect Pam Sly´s Pheidias (David England), a CD winner who also ran well last time out, to come out on top. Nicky Henderson can also score at Exeter this evening with the Queen´s Pipe Banner in the handicap hurdle at 19.50. However this is quite an open race, in which Valento (Kim Bailey/ Jason Maguire) and Very Cool (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) also have chances.

There re the usual maximum fields this evening at Ballinrobe. German-bred Maucaillou (Paul Nolan/ Aidan Cawley), a son of Tiger Hill, runs in the beginners chase at 20.40. He was a decent hurdler, last time out
running a respectable 11th of 24 in a hot handicap at the Cheltenham festival, and if he adapts to fences must have a good chance.