5 bad meetings today

as so often, the cards on Tuesday are all very poor and in addition there are very small fields at all 4 U.K. meetings so that very few races are punter-friendly. Normal each-way betting is possible only at a tiny handful of today´s races. It is significant that Sir Mark Prescott and his stable jockey Seb Sanders are in Catterick for just one runner- Code Cracker in the 2yo maiden that opens the card at 15.00 CET. Her dam won the Prix de Diane, so a win - even in this modest company- would be of huge benefit to her stud value. Mark Johnston can win the 1 3/4 mile handicap at 16.30 with Cat o´Nine Tails; jockey Silvestre de Sousa is now level with Paul Hanagan in the jockeys´ table and could go into the lead today.
Johnston could also have a winner at Bath, where the ground will be rock hard. His runner here is Mariners Lodge (Antioco Murgia) in the apprentice handicap at 15.15. An old friend in action here is 14yo The Tatling (Milton Bradley/ Liam Keniry) in the 5 furlongs handicap at 18.15. When he won at Yarmouth a month ago, it was widely expected that the old boy would be retired, and frankly, that is also what we would prefer, but it seems he just enjoys his racing too much. He is not so well handicapped now following that win, but usually goes well here and certainly has a chance.
Jamie Spencer took a couple of days off following his fall at Goodwood on Saturday (which left Ryan Moore in hospital and likely be out for several weeks) but returns this evening at Ffos Las with 4 rides. Michael Bell´s Gabrial the King at 18.30, Evan Williams´ West with the Wind at 20.05 and Pat Morris´ Cruise to the Limit at 20.40 all have good prospects, so he should not go home without a winner.
Several of the jockeys riding at Catterick this afternoon make their way to Southwell´s all-weather fixture this evening, and Silvestre de Sousa could be among the winners here as well. Daaweitza at 20.30, and Amtired at 21.35, both trained by Brian Ellison, look his best chances here.
There are big fields at the Irish N.H. meeting at Roscommon, but Undertheboardwalk (Tony Martin/ Barry Geraghty) and Minella King (WJ Austin/ Adrian Leigh) were both runners-up last time and can go one better in the two divisions of the maiden hurdle at 18.40 and 19.10 respectively.

Betting forecast at Bath:
1. Race: Mariners Lodge - Covert Decree - Tegan
2. Race: Dancing Primo - Boa - Laverre
3. Race: Watered Silk - Highlife Dancer - Princess Gail
4. Race: Beauty Pageant - Kinigi - Athwaab
5. Race: Tinzapeas - Colourful Event - Nude
6. Race: Orbital Orchid - Dark Energy - Lucky Diva
7. Race: Sulis Minerva - The Tatling - Spic `N Span