Beverley, Folkestone and Stratford

Very modest fare at today´s three meetings. At Beverley the most interesting race is the 5 furlongs conditions event at 16.30 CET. Captain Dunne (Tim Easterby/ David Allan) won this last year and has an obvious chance of doubling up. Last time he finished a close 4th is a listed race and on that form holds CD specialist Look Busy (Alan Berry/ Pat Mathers). However Tax Free (David and Adrian Nicholls), who missed out a race yesterday to wait for this, looks hard to beat; his second place to Astrophysical Jet at the Curragh last time is easily the best form in the race. Mark Johnston rarely has runners in selling races, but Always Dixie (Jo Fanning), an easy winner only on Saturday, can take the opening race at 15.00, and the same team can follow up with well-bred debutant Jalors in the 2yo maiden at 18.00.

At Folkestone, Hughie Morrison holds a strong hand in the 7 furlongs handicap at 17.20 with Duster (Steve Drowne) and Realt na Mara (Jim Crowley) both entered. Henry Cecil´s Kings Bayonet (Tom Queally) has not been very convincing so far this season, but is dropping in grade here and looks the main danger. Cecil and Queally have in any case much better prospects with Sentosa in the maiden race half an hour later.

Several German-breds are in action at Stratford´s N.H. fixture. Olivino (Bernard Llewellyn/ Isabell Tompsett) has a definite each-way chance in the handicap hurdle at 16.10, while Swordsman (Charlie Gordon/ TJ Cannon) could go well off a light weight in the handicap chase at 16.40 if he stays today´s distance of 3 1/2 miles. Walamo (Tim Vaughan/ Tom David) faces a tough task under a double penalty in the novice chase at 15.40 and may not be able to concede weight to the fellow last-time-out winners Cootehill (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan) and Mam Ratagan, while chasing debutant Ravenclaw (Emma Lavelle/ Jack Doyle) is a danger to all if he can reproduce his hurdles form over fences