The calm before the storm

With Cheltenham starting tomorrow, there is no point in expecting high-class racing today, and the cards at all 3 meetings are pretty undistinguished, with some small fields as well. At Stratford, John Quinn should win the opener at 15.10 CET with the penalised Palawi (Dougie Costello) and also has prospects in the handicap hurdle at 17.10 where he saddles two runners, Veiled Applause(Costello) and Folk Tune (Kyle James).

As the former rarely runs over jumps, we prefer the latter, runner-up on his last two starts. The handicap chase at 16.40 looks quite open, but we have a sneaking fancy for 10yo Commemoration Day (Charlie Longsdon/ Felix de Giles). He has been with several trainers during his long career, including Christian von der Recke and his recent form on heavy ground can be ignored; he is much better on decent going and has a good course record, so might run well at a big price.

Monsieur (CJ Gray/ Giles Hawkins) is another one who has been runner-up the last twice, and although he is no world-beater can get his head in front in the handicap hurdle at 17.20 at Taunton. We also expect Fiftyonefiftyone (Oliver Sherwood/ Leighton Aspell) to win the beginners chase here at 15.50; his second place at Newbury 10 days ago is good enough form for this.

Rileyev (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) has been kept very busy and will be running for the 7th time since late January when he contests the handicap chase at 16.30 at Plumpton. However he keeps his form well and can defy a 7 lbs penatly for his win last week at Newton Abbot. German-bred Aconitum (Neil Mulholland/ Mick Quinlan) is a long standing maiden, but the Monsun gelding will find few better opportunities to break his duck than the handicap hurdle at 18.00.