5 meetings today

A touch of winter this afternoon, when the only racing is on the all-weather. At least Southwell stages two class 3 handicaps. The first, over 1 1/2 miles at 16.00 CET, could go to bottom-weight Nave (Mark Johnston/Greg Fairley), the only 3yo in the field and a winner at Bath last time. The obvious danger is Speed Dating (Sir Mark Prescott/ Seb Sanders), runner-up at Kempton last week, all of whose 3 wins this year have been on the all-weather.

Top-weight Veloso (Jeremy Glover/ Dale Swift) is another all-weather specialist, but seems too high in the weights now. Johnston and Fairley could also be on the mark in the 7 furlongs handicap at 17.30. His form figures are very uninspiring, but he runs his best races at this track. The Confessor (Henry Candy/ Dane O´Neill) and Realt na Mara (Hughie Morrison/ Sanders), both unbeaten so far this season, are the dangers.

The most interesting aspect of the Wolverhampton fixture is that Godolphin are sending two 2yo´s and both of them could win. Busker (Mahmoud al Zarooni/ Ahmed Atjebi) can take the maiden at 15.45 and Greek Islands (Antioco Murgia), despite being still a maiden, can defy top-weight in the 2yo handicap an hour later.

Some of the top jockeys - Hughes, Dettori, Moore - will be in action at Windsor this evening. Richard Hughes has the best record here, and despite yesterday´s unexpected defeat in Ireland, he can win two more races on Richard Hannon-trained 2yo´s - Invincible Ridge at 18.40 and Avonmore half an hour later. Ryan Moore´s best chance is Marco Botti´s Rocket Rob in the 6 furlongs handicap at 19.40, who is overdue for a win after a series of placed efforts.

Two each-way bets at Thirsk this evening are veteran Nuit Sombre (Geoff Harker/ Matt O ´Connell) in the selling handicap at 19.30 and Kilt Rock (Richard Guest/ Royston Ffrench) in the 3yo mile handicap at 20.00.
In Ireland, there is a mixed meeting this evening at Ballinrobe, with 4 flat races and 3 over hurdles. Most interesting event is the 2 1/2 mile hurdle at 20.50, with some useful performers entered. Beau Michael and Glenstal Abbey are both recent winners over fences, but elso good enough over the sticks, but the one we like is Nicanor (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry). He won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2006, and although he had disappointed a few times since, has the best rating here and should still be capable of winning a race of this nature.