Jumping is back!

After so many days and weeks of cancelled fixtures, jumping is back today, with good racing from Ffos Las in Wales, better racing from Limerick in Ireland, and even better racing from the other Irish meeting at Leopardstown. Main event there is the Grade One Lexus Chase at 15.35 CET, a race always won by a top class performer, including The Listener (Nick Mitchell/ Andrew McNamara), a spectacular front-runner who won this in 2006; the grey has been only lightly-raced since, but at anywhere near his best, must have a great chance here. The other English-trained runner Money Trix (Nicky Richards/ Davy Russell) also has a chance, while Willie Mullins´ trio Cooldine (Paul Townend), Kempes (Tony McCoy) and J´y Vole (Davy Condon) look the best of the Irish, although Cooldine looks held by Glencove Marina (Eoin Griffin/ Barry Geraghty) on their latest running. Mullins also has good prospects in the other two graded races, the Christmas Hurdle at 15.00 with Mourad (Townend) - altho ugh he must beware of the unbeaten Mossey Joe (WJ Austin/ Andrew Lynch), stepping up in grade but very impressive last time, and in the Fort Leney Novice Chase at 14.25 with Quadrillon (Townend), who has Chicago Grey (Gordon Elliott/ Condon) and Thegreatjohnbrown (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry) to beat.

There is also a graded race at Limerick, the novice hurdle at 14.35, but the field does not look that strong and the race should mainly concern Carloswayback (Paul Nolan/ Alan Crowe) and Start Me Up (Charlie Swan/ David Casey), neither of whom - to be honest- look Cheltenham material. Best bet here in our view is Shirley Casper (Dessie Hughes/ BJ Cooper), who made a good comeback a month ago at Naas after 18 months off, and if she does not bounce, should take care of the opposition in the mares beginners chase at 15.45 easily enough.

Today´s two English meetings at Leicester and Catterick have been abandoned, but there is racing at Ffos Las in Wales. Most interesting event here is the 2 miles 5 furlongs handicap chase at 15.40, which looks very open, with 14 runners, including a rare French challenger Royal Tune (Guillaume Macaire/ Jacques Ricou). He was runner-up to a useful performer at Toulouse last time, but it is hard to say what that form is worth, so we prefer Bible Lord (Andrew Turnell/ Nick Scholfield) each-way.