Plumpton and Uttoxeter

Two N.H. fixtures in England today, with both Plumpton and Uttoxeter offering only low-key sport, although some of the top jumps trainers - Nicholls, King, Pipe - have runners. We expect Pipe´s Frosted Glass (Tom Scudamore) to run out the winner of Uttoxeter´s main event, a handicap chase at 17.20 CET. The much improved 4yo still seems well handicapped despite 3 recent wins. The most interesting runner however at this meeting is Alan King´s Pouvoir (Sam Thomas) in the novice chase half an hour later. A smart young hurdler in 2007, he has only run 3 times since, but if anywhere near his old form should win this, at the main expense of recent Newton Abbot scorer Quell the Storm (Paul Nicholls/ Harry Skelton), while ex-German Nordwind (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney) should also be in the money. With Nigel Twiston-Davies having made his usual good start, his Ackertac (Paddy Brennan) looks the best bet here; he runs in the novice hurdle at 15.20.

At Plumpton, the 2 mile novice hurdle at 16.00 is an intriguing event. The two penalised runners Freedom Fire (Gary and Jamie Moore) and Marc Aurele (Nicholls/ Ryan Mahon) both look useful, but it is not sure that they can concede the weight to the promising Whatdoyoucallit (Evan Williams/ Tony McCoy). Then there are two ex-Germans running here - Aragall (George Baker/ Andrew Tinkler) and Sommersturm (Barney Curley/ Denis O´Regan) who have definite chances, especially the latter if Barney has been able to bring him back to form. A good performance by Freedom Fire would be an obvious pointer to the chances of Tignello (Nicholls/ Mahon) in the following handicap hurdle, in which Gary and Jamie Moore are represented by recent winner Herschel, moving up ín grade. German-bred The Lemonpie (Milton Harris/ Gerard Tumelty) would appear to have little chance here; his trainer has much better prospects with Royal & Ancient (Warren Marston) in the opening 3yo hurdle at 15.00.