Taunton, Towcester and Wolverhampton

N.H. racing this afternoon at Taunton and Towcester, while the flat racing is on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. Nicky Henderson is going through a purple patch and can score at both jumping fixtures. At Taunton, he should certainly take the novice hurdle at 14.45 CET with Secret World (Barry Geraghty),runner-up in a better race at Newbury last time. Dona (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) was a well-beaten third that day, but still looks the main danger, and his team can take revenge half an hour later in the novice handicap chase where we expect their Squadron can defeat Henderson´ s Shakalakaboomboom. Henderson´s China Sky is a bit of an unknown quantity in the mares novice hurdle at 15.45, but would not have to be anything special to defeat this poor opposition. The handicap hurdle at 16.15 looks very open, but the 3 German-breds could all run well- Marleno (Milton Harris/ Warren Marston), Marinsky (Tim Vaughan/ C. Timmons) and Cortinas (Charlotte Dyson/ Ian Popham), especia lly the first-named who showed improved form to win over this CD 11 days ago.

At Towcester, Rackham Lerouge (Henderson/ Tony McCoy) looks a penalty kick to defeat his 3 opponents in the novice chase at 14.55; he is expected to go on to much better things. Otherwise it could pay to follow Richard Johnson here, who can take the novice hurdle at 15.25 with Redbridge Flyer and the maiden hurdle an hour later with Papeese, both trained by Philip Hobbs, and can also the stayers novice hurdle at 14.25 on Tim Vaughan´s Pure Anticipation.

The card at Wolverhampton is very modest indeed. Our best bet here is Rubensstar (Pat Morris/ Ryan Clark) in the apprentice handicap over 7 furlongs at 16.05; he was an easy winner at this trip at Lingfield last week and can follow up under a penalty. His talented young rider can also score on Steve Williams´ Dreamacha in the fillies handicap an hour later.