Lots of runners

There is plenty of action today with 6 meetings and lot of runners. The only flat racing this afternoon is at Catterick, where the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.30 CET looks particularly trappy with 15 runners. David Nicholls saddles 4 of them, and in our opinion George Benjamin, partnered by his son Adrian, is the pick of them. Last Sovereign (Ollie Pears/ Tom Eaves), whose stable is having a good run, looks a big danger, but our main fancy is the much-improved Pelmanism (Kevin Ryan/ Phillip Makin), who has won 5 races already this year (3 on the all-weather) and successfully moved up to this distance last time after mostly running over 6 furlongs and we think that there could be more successes to come.

Best race at Worcester is the handicap hurdle over 2 1/2 miles at 17.10, which should mainly concern top-weight Crystal Rock (Nicky Henderson/ Tony McCoy) and Suburban Boy (Alan King/ Robert Thornton). King has had a tough time of it for the last 2 years, but Suburban Boy looks the real deal and has won his last two races with the greatest of ease. He has gone up 19 lbs in the weights, but we think that he can continue his winning run, as he still receives 9lbs from Crystal Rock, who has suffered at the hands of the handicapper for his consistency (placed his last 8 starts, but only one win).

At Perth, Sun Tzu (Peter Bowen/ Tom O´Brien) is another one who has shot up the weights after winning his last 4 races. He runs in the 3 mile handicap chase at 16.50, but faces stronger opposition here, and we expect both Nudge and Nurdle (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan), off the track since October, but from a stable that does well here and now on a decent weight, and top-weight Gray Mountain( Lucinda Russell/ Peter Buchanan), who has been running in better races, to prove very dangerous.

This evening´s U.K. racing at Chepstow and Kempton (a.w.) is nothing special but Fairyhouse has a strong card, headed by the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes for fillies and mares over 7 furlongs at 20.30. The two British challengers Agony and Ecstacy (Ralph Beckett/ Jim Crowley) and Sharnberry (Ed Dunlop/ Kieren Fallon) should both go well, but preference is for Emulous (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen). She has to concede weight all round, but her defeat of Lolly for Dolly last time was a good performance and that form could see her successful here.