Cartmel, Bellewstown and Tipperary this evening

Even after the abandonment of Goodwood, there is still racing this evening both in the U.K. at Cartmel and in Ireland at Bellewstown and Tipperary. Th last-named course stages the best race of the day a listed race for fillies over 7 furlongs at 18.20 CET. These events always attract big fields, in this case 14 runners, but half of them have no chance at all, at least in theory. Gile na Greine (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning), third in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and runner-up in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, stands out on ratings and should win this easily. If Lolly for Dolly (Tommy Stack( Wayne Lordan) could recover her early season form, she might be a danger, while the improving Smart Striking (John Oxx/ Fran Berry) is next best.

The other two meetings are both over jumps, woth Bellewstown staging an all-hurdles card. German-bred Auenshütze has been runner-up in his last 4 races but might get off the mark in the 2 miles 1 furlong race at 17.25. The danger is clearly Pires, one of 3 mounts at the fixture for Ruby Walsh and trainer Tony Martin. Their best chance is probably Dream Champion in the 3 mile handicap at 19.35. He has a 4 lbs penalty for winning over 2 1/2 miles on
Sunday but scored in good style and can go in again.

There are some very small fields at the pretty Cartmel track, where no race has more than 7 runners. The main event is a handicap chase over 3 3/4 miles at 18.55. With the stable now in good form , we hope that Petite Margot (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies) can defy top weight here.