N.H. racing at Uttoxeter, Wetherby and Punchestown

Three jumps meetings today, with pride of place going to the top Irish track at Punchestown, opening its gates for the 2010-11 season. Two stars on show here are Voler la Vedette (Colm Murphy/ Barry Geraghty), who runs in the listed mares chase at 16.40 CET and Muirhead (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry), who goes for the beginners chase at 18.50. Neither has run since finishing unplaced the same Grade One event at the festival here in April, but they should both score today. Voler la Vedette has won 7 of her 11 starts, including this event last year, and has only recent winner Elyaadi (John Queally/ Niall Madden) to beat. while Muirhead, although he has not won for almost 3 years, has been running well in the top hurdles races and looks a top recruit to chasing ranks.

In England, ex-Irish Nicene Creed should win the novice hurdle at 15.40 at Uttoxeter, but the other novice hurdle, over a longer distance at 16.45, looks much more open.