3 jumps meetings today

Jumps racing this afternoon at Haydock, Hereford and Warwick, but the standard is very low in almost every race and some of today´s runners would find it hard to win a walkover. With the ground firming up all over, punters should take winter form on heavy going with a pinch of salt, and there could well be some surprise results. Alan King has runners at all 3 meetings and the fact that he sends stable jockey Robert Thornton to Warwick is a definite hínt and we expect "Choc" to ride several winners. The combination can take the opening maiden hurdle et 15.20 with Sweet Irony, placed third on all 3 hurdles starts so far, the 4yo handicap hurdle at 17.05 with Panxtoa, who has only 2 opponents, and the mares handicap hurdle at 17.40 with Tsarinova, who has Veiled (Nicky Henderson/ David Bass) to beat. Thornton can also take the novice hurdle at 15.55 with Richard Lee´s Highway Code, assuming he jumps better than last time. An interesting longshot here could be Prince of Dr eams (Ed de Giles/ Liam Treadwell), who is very well bred and would not need to improve much on the feeble form shown so far to score here.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Sweet Irony - Faultless Feelings - Rossmore Lad
2. Race: Highway Code - Grandads Horse - Strathcal
3. Race: Timpo - Rudinero - Feeling Peckish
4. Race: Pantxoa - Head Hunted - Pullyourfingerout
5. Race: Veiled - Here`S The Key - Mayolynn
6. Race: Motor Home - Citrus Mark - Ton-Chee
7. Race: Valdez - Cocoa Minnie - Thomas Crapper


Alan King can also score at Haydock with Nikos Extra (Wayne Hutchinson), who was a faller when last seen out in October, but has a definite chance on his best form, especially on this going. A couple of German-breds who might run much better here than their recent form would indicate are Los Nadis (Jim Goldie/ Richard McGrath) and First Stream (Howard Johnson/ Paul Gallagher) who both run in the handicap hurdle at 16.50, and Katapult (Kate Walton/ McGrath) in the novice hurdle at 17.25.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Maurisca - Youngstown - Marleybow
2. Race: Humbie - Thumbs Up - Glencree
3. Race: Grand Diamond - Miereveld - Bring Sweets
4. Race: Thanks For Coming - Tobago Bay - Maska Pony
5. Race: Hector`S Choice - Nikos Extra - Invisible Man
6. Race: Cantlow - A Bridge Too Far - Solis
7. Race: Ebanour - City Press - Crowning Jewel


The card at Hereford is the weakest of the three today- and that is really saying something! Alan King may pull off an across-the-card treble with Mister Chancer (Jimmy McCarthy) in the novice hurdle at 16.05, while Red Merlin (Donald McCain/ Henry Brooke), a decent flat horse who might make up into a useful hurdler as well, should take the opening race at 15.00.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Red Merlin - Behtarini - Paddy Partridge
2. Race: Kercabellec - Jack`S Lad - Chord
3. Race: Mister Chancer - Mr Moss - Persian Forest
4. Race: Showtime Annie - Sparkling Brook - Vintage Quest
5. Race: Molanna View - Master Somerville - Tyup Pompey
6. Race: Welcome Stranger - Jinksy Minx - Gainsborough`s Art
7. Race: Takeroc - My Way De Solzen - Good Company