Ayr, Hereford and Lingfield

Mainly low grade sport today and some very small fields as well. Lingfield stages one of its rare N.H.meetings and we make Shinrock Hill (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) at 15.15 CET the best bet here. He was 100/1 when runner-up at Exeter last time, but that was decent form and a reproduction would be good enough here. Johnson also has a winning chance on the consistent Betabob (Tim Vaughan) in the 2 mile handicap chase at 15.15. The novice hurdle at 14.45 looks quite interesting, but Raduis Bleu (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) -in the money all U.K. starts and runner-up this CD last time, and Zakeeta (Oliver Sherwood/ Leighton Aspell) - no chance in a much hotter at event at Cheltenham last time, but twice an easy winner beforehand - look the likeliest candidates.

At Ayr, Nafaath (Howard Johnson/ Brian Hughes) looks a good thing to win over fences for the first time at 14.00. he was a smart horse on the flat and over hurdles, and last time ran in a Grade One at the Aintree Grand National meeting. He seems to have little to beat here and if he jumps soundly should win easily. Nihols lexnder holds strong hnd in the hndivp chae over n etende 3 miles t 15.05, woth both Seeking Power, ridden b his daughter, nd Isöl Pearl Fisher (Paddy Aspell) engaged, but possibly Eyre Square (Keith and James Reveley) can beat them both. The handicap hurdle over the same trip at 15.40 could lie between Torta nel Cielo (James Ewart/ Harry Haynes) and What a Dream (Wilf Amos/ Fearghal Davis), who finished 1-2 in a similar race at Kelso 6 weeks ago. We prefer the latter, now better off at the weights and with possibly more scope for improvement.

There are only 6 runners in the beginners chase at 14.55 at Hereford but both Aldertune (Paul Nicholls/ Henry Skelton) and Pearlysteps (Henry Daly/ Jake Greenall) are expected to go on to better things. We have a slight preference for the latter. The ahndicap hurdle over 3 1/4 miles at 15.25 could go to Not Talking (John Quinn/ Dougie Costello) an easy winner of a similar race at Newcastle last time.