Market Rasen, Sedgefield and Southwell

Three more moderate fixtures today, with the best racing coming from Market Rasen, where most of the top jockeys are in action. Tony McCoy rdes the first two favourites for Nicky Henderson, but the stable´s form is not quite so good at the moment and we are a bit dubious However the combination should score with Quantativeeasing in the novice chase at 15.35 CET, who has only two opponents, the better of which is the German-bred Fin Vin de Leu (Charlie Mann/ Daryl Jacob); however, even in receipt of 10 lbs, it is hard to see him beating the favourite. We also like the lightly-raced Silver Roque (Henrietta Knight/ Andrew Thornton) in the novices handicap hurdle here at 16.05 and recent winner Mister Wiseman (Nigel Hawke/ David Dennis) in the handicap chase half an hour later.

At Sedgefield, N. Irish trainer James Lambe has a couple of runners and we expect Vivaldi (EJ O´Connell) to go close in the novice hurdle at 15.25; he has a huge weight but easily the best form in the race. Any Given Moment (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire), a heavily-backed flop on his hurdling debut, looks the danger in receipt of a stone. The Knoxs (Howard Johnson/ Brian Hughes) has fallen the last twice, but still looks the likeliest winner of the beginners chase at 15.55, while Overlady (James Ewart/ Harry Haynes), who has been off for almost 2 years, could go close in the handicap hurdle over 3 1/2 miles half an hour later if anywhere near her old form.

Of several German-breds running today, the one with the best winning chance in our view is Bright Sparky in the second division of the amateur riders handicap at 14.45 at Southwell. He usually runs well here, and although he has been off the track since October, his trainer Mick Easterby knows the time of day, while his rider Serena Brotherton is very experienced and has already won on him. Mediterranean Sea (John Jenkins/ Steven Craine) is our fancy in the handicap over 1 1/2 miles at 17.45; her record here is one win and 5 places from 6 starts and she should certainly finish in the frame again.