5 meetings today

As is often the case on a Tuesday, only very modest sport is on offer at today´s 5 meetings - three flat meetings on the flat in the afternoon and two over jumps in the evening. At Ripon, Maktoum al Maktoum must have a good chance of winning the 3yo handicap at 16.10 CET, as he owns 3 of the 7 runners. Jockey bookings suggest that Taqaat (Mark Johnston/ Tagdh O´Shea) is the stable´s number one, and the same owner/trainer/ jockey team can also land the first division of the 3yo maiden at 17.40 with Qenaa, now up in trip to a mile. Mark Johnston can also win the second division at 1.40 with Carrowbeg (Joe Fanning).

Lingfield has lost its main attraction, which would have been not a horse but a jockey: the American Mike Smith, regular partner of superfilly Zenyatta, had 5 rides booked but has had to give them up owing to possible problems with his visa. In his absence the card is very dull, but possibly Firstknight, representing the Cologne winning team of Marco Botti and Adam Kirby, has an each-way chance in the 3yo handicap over 7 furlongs at 17.00.

Best bet at Chepstow is Beaumont´s Party (Andrew Baldíng/ David Probert), who was a very easy winner at Chester on Saturday. He now has a 6 lbs penalty in the 10 furlongs handicap at 17.20 but appeared to have much more in hand.