5 bad meetings today

It is hard to imagine worse racing than that which is on offer at today´ s 5 meetings - 3 on the flat in the afternoon, and two over jumps this evening. Not only is the standard low throughout, the quantity is as well with some very small fields, especially at Folkestone with only 37 runners in 7 races. Consistent Black Baccara (Phil McEntee/ Kieren Fallon) rarely wins but has found an easy opportunity here in the 5 furlongs handicap at 16.00 CET. She gets 6 lbs from the main danger, Dream Number (Willie Muir/ Martin Dwyer), who was a narrow winner at Lingfield last time. Ex-German Swordsman (Chris Gordon/ Chris Catlin) should have a good chance in the staying handicap half an hour later. He is coming off a break but likes this CD and as a son of Acatenango should have no problems with the fast ground.

At Wolverhampton, Royal Bajan (James Given/ Paul Mulrennan), who won over this CD on his lifetime debut 12 days ago, can follow up in the 3yo handicap over 5 furlongs at 15.20. Tiradito (Marco Botti/ Adam Kirby) could start favourite for the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.20, but has a poor strike rate and has been off the track since January. We prefer the tough Lastkingofscotland (Conor Dor/ Hayley Turner), who is running for the 10th time this year(!) but usually runs his race.

Another favourite to be wary of is Formulation (Hughie Morrison/ Jimmy Fortune) in the mile handicap at 17.40 at Southwell. He is still a maiden, and although his second place at Leicester last time reads well he is no good thing here. We will take a chance on Elusive Fame (Mark Johnston/ Jason Hart), who has been dropped in the weights, but usually goes well here. Johnston, easily the most successful trainer at Southwell, can also score with top-weight Record Breaker (Silvestre de Sousa) in the staying handicap half an hour earlier.

At Taunton this evening Qozak (Paul Nicholls/ Nick Scholfield) looks a near certainty to win the novice chase at 18.15, but his price will reflect this. Nicholls can complete a treble with Vertige Dore (Timmy Murphy) at 18.45 and Teshali (James Cowley) an hour later. At Towcester, there are 12 runners - the biggest field of the day - in the mares novice hurdle at 18.30, but it should only concern the two penalised runners Sara´s Smile (representing the Grand National winning team of Donald McCain and Jason Maguire) and Balerina (Alan King/ Robert Thornton).