N.H. racing at Sandown, Warwick and Navan (Ireland)

By normal Sandown standards, today´s card at the Esher track is very feeble, especially with only 3 runners in the main feature, a novice chase over 2 miles at 16.25 CET. We expect Pepe Simo (Paul Nicholls/ Sam Thomas) to prove best here, although both opponents have decent and recent winning form. The handicaps here all look very difficult, but we feel that Russian Flag (Neil King/ Alex Merriam) and Royale´s Charter (Nick Williams/Daryl Jacob) could repay each-way support at 15.20 and 17.00 respectively.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Qalinas - Rajamand - First Avenue
2. Race: Dinarius - Clouseau - Kilkenny All Star
3. Race: Kid Cassidy - Shuil Royale - Hildisvini
4. Race: Pepe Simo - Dan Breen - Giorgio Quercus
5. Race: Prince Du Seuil - Royale`S Charter - China Gold
6. Race: Diamond Brook - Antonius Caesar - Royal Wedding
7. Race: Ballytober - Univoque - Clever Dick




Some of the leading jockeys are at Warwick, and "Choc" Thornton could have a profitable afternoon here, with both Alan King´s Dhaafer in the 4yo hurdle at 15.40 and Richard Lee´s Incentivise in the handicap chase at 16.50 holding good chances. This latter race goes over 3 miles 5 furlongs, which will take some getting on the heavy ground, and Incentivise is one of the few runners who is not only in form but also guaranteed to get the trip. The same goes for German-bred Federstar (Milton Harris/ Jimmy Derham) in the novice chase at 17.25, who goes well on the heavy and is just about the pick here on hurdles form.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Original Prankster - Azione - Like Ice
2. Race: Dhaafer - Pepite Rose - Rock The Stars
3. Race: Basford Bob - Tricky Tree - Bardolf
4. Race: Carronhills - Incentivise - Bench Warrent
5. Race: Stoney`S Treasure - Tafika - Federstar
6. Race: Young Mags - Definite Artist - Florafern




There are huge fields at the Irish meeting at Navan with 20+ runners in all 7 races - 6 over hurdles and a bumper. Some German-breds running here could do well - Narima in the maiden hurdle at 14.40 and Quartetto in the handicap at 17.30 could both finish in the money for Mervyn Torems and Mark Darcy, while Stabilo (MJ McDonagh/ DG Hogan) could also go well in the latter race, and Elcanos (Tony Martin/ G Lavery) has a chance despite top weight in the novice handicap hurdle at 16.50, judging by the way he scored last time at Fairyhouse.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Narima - Driveheron - Fammi Sognare
2. Race: Final Victory - Run With The Wind - Ithinkbest
3. Race: Gift Of Dgab - Popcorn - Ballyburke
4. Race: Last Instalment - Up The Beat - Vics Canvas
5. Race: Elcanos - Shorecliffe King - Short Grass
6. Race: Odonimee - Quartetto - Top Brass
7. Race: The Bog Road Girl - Carrig Millie - Queen Of The Hill