Leicester and Wolverhampton

Flat racing continues today on turf at Leicester and this evening on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. Leicester is a right-handed track and is thus the first to be affected by the new system which came into effect yesterday. Previously the starting stalls in the U.K. were numbered from left to right; this meant that on right-handed tracks, the high numbers were on the inside and often had a considerable advantage. The tracks most affected were Beverley and Kempton (all-weather), but also the round courses at Ascot and Goodwood. Now the stalls are numbered from the inside, as is the case in almost all other racing countries, so that number one is always on the inside rail. As far as the racing is concerned, the less said the better. Ryan Moore rode a double at Lingfield yesterday and can repeat this feat at Leicester with Robert Mills´Jacobs´s Son in the 3yo handicap at 16.20 CET and Richard Hannon´s Retainer in the conditions race at 17.50. There are only 4 runners in each of these races, but are still quite tricky, and Breedj (Clive Brittain/ Philip Robinson) is a definite threat in the latter event.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Jack Who`S He - Dougie Boy - Waybuloo
2. Race: Captain Dimitrios - Eternal Youth - Elusive Love
3. Race: Sadler`S Risk - Jacobs Son - Brilliant Barca
4. Race: Postman - Regal Rave - Silent Oasis
5. Race: Retainer - Glas Burn - Breedj
6. Race: Hunza Dancer - Sand Owl - Glyn Ceiriog
7. Race: Nimue - Standpoint - Merchant Of Medici


At Wolverhampton there are also small fields in the main races. The 9 1/2 furlongs handicap at 20.45 is quite a hot race, despite only 6 runners. They include the course specialists Black Coffee (Mark Brisbourne/ Shane Kelly), winner of 5 of his last 8 starts, all over this CD, and unlucky last time, and John Potts (Brian Baugh/ Kelly Harrison), who has won 6 races over this CD since December. However strictly speaking, Strong Vigilence (Michael Bell/ Jamie Spencer) should win this; he beat John Potts easily enough when they met here a month ago and is now better off at the weights.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Lord Avon - Sugar Beet - Second Encore
2. Race: Broughtons Paradis - Blackstone Vegas - Barbirolli
3. Race: Take Your Partner - Da Ponte - Consistant
4. Race: My Love Fajer - Invincible Hero - Royal Bajan
5. Race: Strong Vigilance - Black Coffee - John Potts
6. Race: Jack Rackham - Mottley Crewe - Tasmeem
7. Race: Empress Leizu - Lilli Palmer - Kathleen Kennet