Fakenham, Folkestone and Southwell

Once again very poor sport at today´s 3 British meetings - over jumps at Fakenham and Folkestone and on the all-weather at Southwell. Fakenham has survived two inspections (because of overnight frost), but the ground there will be very bad. There are small fields at both N.H. meetings, with no race with more thn 8 runners. Jennie Candlish has her string in good form and can land a double at Folkestone with dual bumper winner Vesey Lodge in the novice hurdle at 14.10 CET and Princess Rainbow in the mares handicap hurdle at 15.10, both partnered by Alan O´Keeffe. The latter must however beware of Just Beware (Zoe and Gemma Davison) in receipt of 20 lbs. Our best bet here is General Kutozov (Nick Gifford/ Liam Treadwell) in the novice chase at 14.40, despite having been off the track since January.

At Fakenham, the novice chase at 15.30 should lie between Film Festival (Brian Ellison/ Fearghal Davies) and Robo (Renee Robeson/ Tom O´Brien), both last time winners stepping up in trip.

The card at Southwell is pretty grim, with all 8 races being class 5 or 6. If there is a good horse in action there today, it can only be Godolphin´ s well-bred newcomer Ibn Bajjah (Ted Durcan) in the 2yo maiden at 14.20.