Southwell (N.H.), Folkestone (N.H.) and Wolverhampton (a.w.)

Very low-level sport at all 3 meetings today, with not a single race of more than passing interest. Of several German-breds engaged, the one with the best chance would appear to be Mamba (Chris Down(/ JM Davies) in the handicap chase at 14.30 CET at Southwell. Last time she was runner-up to Lerida (Mrs. SA Watt/ Brian Harding) at Huntingdon and meets that opponent on better terms, but Follow the Sun (Peter Niven/ Brian Hughes), an unlucky third in the same race, could be a bigger danger. Tony McCoy is in action here and can land a short-priced double for Nicky Henderson on Bear´s Affair in the novice hurdle at 15.30 and Victrix Sale in the bumper at 17.00; he also has a chance on Jonjo O´Neill´s I Can Run, Can You in the handicap hurdle at 16.30 as long as the ground is not too heavy.

The going will certainly be heavy at Folkestone, where the course has passed two inspections this morning. Quilver Tatou (Charlie Mann/ Paul Molony) was runner-up on similar ground at Lingfield last time, and the winner of that race Sunset Massini scored easily yesterday, so he can now take the novices handicap chase at 15.10.

At Wolverhampton, Piquante (Nigel Tinkler/ Hayley Turner), third at Kempton last week, can win the fillies handicap over 7 furlongs at 16.50 and another fillies handicap, half an hour later over 9 furlongs, can go to top-weight Catbells (Alan Bailey/ Natasha Eaton), who has been runner-up twice running with this apprentice on board. Kassiodor (Barney Curley/ Micky Fenton) has an excellent German pedigree, but the runners from this stable have been so incnsistent in recent weeks that one hesitates to recommend him; he runs in the maiden at 17.50.