All-weather racing today

The usual poor fare at today´s two all-weather meetings, especially at Southwell this afternoon, where all 8 races are class 5 or 6. The best betting race here is the 5 furlongs handicap at 15.50 CET, with 14 runnrs, many of them CD specialists. The 10yo´s Pawan (Ann Stokell) and Cape Royal (Milton Bradley/ Richard Kingscote) are not the most reliable candidates these days, but both are very well handicapped and always capable of winning if in the right mood. Last week Pawan finished behind Colorus (3rd), La Capriosa (5th), and Equileus Pictor (8th) in a similar race here, but it was a very close finish and all of them coud be involved again .

At Wolverhampton this evening the card is slightly stronger; at least there are 2 class 4 handicaps. The race over 1 3/4 miles at 18.20 could go to Beggars Opera (John Gosden/ Robert Havlin), who threw away his chance last time by a violent swerve. Camps Bay (Brian Ellison/ Neil Callan), who ran on well when third here over 1 1/2 miles, and consistent Valid Reason (Dean Ivory/ Jim Crowley), having his first run for his new trainer, are the dangers. The 7 furlongs race half an hour later looks much more triicky, with 11 runners. The recent runners-up Breathless Kiss (Kevin Ryan/ Phillip Makin) and Lutine Bell (Mike Murphy/ Callan) are two of the likelier winners.