All-weather racing today

Obviously the racing at today´s two all-weather meetings, Southwell this afternoon and Wolverhampton this evening, pales into significance compared to the sport on offer across the pond tonight. The continuing struggle between Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes for the jockeys championship (which ends tomorrow) will again be the most interesting aspect and we hope that Hanagan can wrap things up today.

He has 6 rides at Southwell and 3 at Wolverhampton, while Hughes is only riding at the latter meeting, where he has 3 rides. Hanagan´s best chances at Southwell are probably Jeremy Glover´s Suddenly Susan in the 2yo handicap at 14.00 CET and Mick Easterby´s We´ ll Deal Again in the 6 furlongs maiden at 16.00. The best races here are the mile event for 2yo maidens at 14.30, in which Godolphin´s German-bred Raw Spirit (Saeed bin Suroor/ Ted Durcan) comes up against Encore une Annee (Ralph Beckett/ Jim Crowley), as well as the 5 furlongs conditions race at 16.30, which should go to Noble Storm (Ed McMahon/ Graham Gibbons)

At Wolverhampton Hughes can possibly keep his chances laive by winning the last race at 20.40 on Brian Meehan´s Colour Scheme. Hanagan can take the 2yo maiden at 19.10 on Mark Johnston´s Home Office but must beware of Godolphin´s well-bred newcomer Al Biruni (bin Suroor/ Durcan).