Carlisle, Huntingdon and Lingfield

The only flat racing in the U.K today is on the all-weather at Lingfield. Most of the races are low level handicaps, and the main interest will be in the continuing battle for the jockeys championship (which ends on Saturday) between Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes. Hanagan leads currently by 4 and has 7 rides while Hughes has a full book of 8. In our view, Hanagan´s best chances are on Mark Johnston´s Herostratus at 15.50 CET, Richard Fahey´ s Bohemian Music at 15.20 and the speedy Le Toreador (Kevin Ryan) in the 5 furlongs handicap at 16.55, the best race on the card, while Hughes has prospects on Commander Wish and Durgan in the two divisions of the 6 furlongs handicap at 14.10 and 14.40, and on Richard Hannon´s Sweet Secret at 17.20. However none of these really stands out, and it is quite conceivable that neither of them will ride a winner.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Cantor - Circus Star - Whiplash Willie
2. Race: Rio Royale - Commander Wish - Metropolitan Chief
3. Race: Best One - Durgan - Mushy Peas
4. Race: Lang Shining - Ahlawy - Green Earth
5. Race: Herostatus - Beggar`S Opera - Dakiyah
6. Race: Countess Comet - Bahamian Music - Commerce
7. Race: Nickel Silver - Piscean - Ziggy Lee
8. Race: April Fool - Sweet Secret - Recalcitrant




The jumps racing is much better. especially at Carlisle, where there is a field of 5 in the intermediate chase over 2 1/2 miles at 15.40. Weird Al (Ian Williams/ Noel Fehily) is the obvious favourite here, having won his last 4 races and he is indeed unbeaten since his debut almost 3 years ago. He could well go right to the top, but only races sporadically and today we prefer Cape Tribulation (Malcolm Jefferson/ Timmy Murphy), in receipt of 12 lbs and the only one in the field to have run this season. The valuable Cumberland Chase, a 3 1/4 mile handicap at 16.10, looks much more competitive. Palace Merano (Donald McCain/ Graham Lee) runs for the first time for his in.form trainer, having previously been with Willie Mullins. Top-weight Gentle Ranger (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) represents the team that won Ascot´s big handicap chase yesterday, while we have slight preference for the very consistent Bay Cherry (Howard Johnson/ Brian Hughes).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Blenheim Brook - Sunnyside - Noble Scholar
2. Race: Make It Blossom - Native Coll - The Rustlin Rhino
3. Race: No Supper - Cool Operator - Zahara Joy
4. Race: Weird Al - The Hollinwell - Cape Tribulation
5. Race: Gentle Ranger - Palace Merano - Bay Cherry
6. Race: Roudoudou Ville - Lindseyfield Lodge - Locked Inthepocket
7. Race: Touch Of Spring - Opera North - Serenader




Ian Williams also has good chances at Huntingdon where Wayward Prince (Dougie Costello) can dominate the novice chase over 3 miles at 14.55. The 2 mile handicap chase at 16.00 looks wide open; our 3 against the field are Award Winner (Brendan Powell/ Tony McCoy), Sunday City (Peter Bowen/ Jamie Moore) and bottom-weight Arctic Ben (Henry Daly/ Richard Johnson).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Taketimeout - Richmond - Up To The Mark
2. Race: Wayward Prince - Quentin Collonges - Arkose
3. Race: Mossley - Harvest Song - Hoback Junction
4. Race: Arctic Ben - Sunday City - Knight Legend
5. Race: Buds Dilemma - Mcqueen - Handtheprizeover
6. Race: Amuse Me - Sonic Anthem - Carrig An Uisce